XML由於具備結構化、擴充性、跨平台、內容外觀分離等特性，很快 地成為一種公認的文件標準，由XML所延伸的眾多應用，如MathML、SMIL、 SVG、XHTML等，也逐漸普及於多種專業用途上。未來XML更可能結合攜帶 式行動設備存取網路資訊。本文就目前最具代表性的幾種電子文件技術，如 RTF、Postscript、PDF、SGML、HTML等，加以分析、探討其優缺點及特性， 並與XML的文件展示技術比較，藉此闡述XML的特質及應用潛力，進一步探 究未來電子文件展示技術的可能發展趨勢。

　　　　　The main features of XML include (1) rigorous structure and extensibility (2) separated processing of content, structure schema, and display (3) platform-independency, high portability (4) easy applications in e-commerce (5) a Meta-language for other applications. Nowadays, a lot of applications based on XML were developed in some professional fields, e.g., MathML for scientific publication, SMIL for multimedia authoring, SVG for vector diagram drawing, and XHTML for Web page publication. In the future, XML incorporated with mobile devices such as PDA's, palm-top computers, in-car computers, cellular phones, and pagers will construct a mobile information service environment which can provide a quick access to the Internet anywhere and anytime. In this study, some representative technologies of electronic documents, such as RTF, postscript, PDF, SGML and HTML, were discussed to reveal their merits and shortcomings. In comparing XML with the previous technologies, this study also explored its characteristics and potentials, with an attempt to trace out a possible trend in presentation technologies of electronic publications.