VML

VML is a language for defining graphical objects in cases where DrawingML does not apply in Office Open XML, such as text boxes and shapes in WordprocessingML documents and comments and controls in SpreadsheetML documents.

The VML format is a legacy format originally introduced with Office 2000 and is included and fully defined in this Standard for backwards compatibility reasons. The DrawingML format is a newer and richer format created with the goal of eventually replacing any uses of VML in the Office Open XML formats. VML should be considered a deprecated format included in Office Open XML for legacy reasons only and new applications that need a file format for drawings are strongly encouraged to use preferentially DrawingML.