When you generate the instance document with an XML file type, the instance XML file is saved to a specified folder location. When an instance document uses a taxonomy that is an extension of the US GAAP taxonomy, the instance document is shown in the “SEC Instance Viewer” (when the SEC viewer files are available. See Instance Viewer Options). All other instance documents are shown in a tabular format known as the “generic instance viewer”. The instance document can be opened in a generic viewer, which can display XBRL content in a format similar to opening the XML document in a Web browser. When the data of the filing company is in XBRL format, the instance document can be filed with the regulatory agency or sent to another company.
To preview XBRL output:
Generate the instance document by selecting the Export option on the Disclosure Management ribbon.
On the Disclosure Management ribbon, select Instance Viewer.
From the Instance Viewer, select Open, and then Open Report.
Navigate to the folder in which the instance document has been stored, and click Open.
Because of auto-detection of the taxonomy, users see the Standard File Open dialog when they select File and then Open US-GAAP Report from the Instance Viewer. When Disclosure Management cannot auto-detect the taxonomy, it prompts the user to provide the taxonomy path or URL.
In the examples below, the instance document output contains the context, unit, and footnotes (first example), followed by the facts (second example):
