Janice Selberg <JSELBER@CMS.CC.WAYNE.EDU> writes:
>Perhaps you could enlighten those of us who have never heard of it--
>just what is SGML?
In response, rather than attempt an answer, perhaps the following
may shed some light, and detailed info/bibliographies are available
by anonymous FTP from sgml1.ex.ac.uk.
<10> *Coombs, James; Renear, Allen; DeRose, Steven J. "Markup Systems
and the Future of Scholarly Text Processing." CACM 30/11 (1987)
933-947. ISSN: 0001-0782. Cf. CACM 31/7 (July 1988) 810-811.
Abstract: The authors argue that many word processing systems
distract authors from their tasks of research and composition,
toward concern with typographic and other tasks. Emphasis on
"WYSIWYG", while helpful for display, has ignored a more
fundamental concern: representing document structure. Four main
types of markup are analyzed: Punctuational (spaces,
punctuation,...), presentational (layout, font choice,...),
procedural (formatting commands), and descriptive (mnemonic
labels for document elements). Only some ancient manuscripts
have no markup. Any form of markup can be formatted for
display, but descriptive markup is privileged because it
reflects the underlying structure. ISO SGML is a descriptive
markup standard, but most benefits are available even before a
standard is widely accepted. A descriptively marked-up document
is not tied to formatting or printing capabilities. It is
maintainable, for the typographic realization of any type of
element can be changed in a single operation, with guaranteed
consistency. It can be understood even with <emph>no</> markup
formatting software: compare "<blockquote>" to ".sk 3 a; .in +10
-10; .ls 0; .cp 2". It is relatively portable across views,
applications and systems. Descriptive markup also minimizes
cognitive demands: the author need only recall (or recognize in
a menu) a mnemonic for the desired element, rather than also
} deciding how it is currently to appear, and recalling how to
obtain that appearance. Most of this extra work is thrown away
before final copy; descriptive markup allows authors to focus on
authorship. (abstract supplied by Steve DeRose)
==============================================================
New Consortium Formed to Expand Document Interchange Standard
SGML Open to Bring Document Data Standard to Commercial Markets
San Antonio, TX - February 24, 1993 - SGML Open, a consortium of
electronic distribution, authoring and database software companies,
was announced today at the Tech Doc meeting held here. SGML
(Standard Generalized Markup Language) is an international
ISO standard for the interchange of documents and data in electronic
form that is already vital to industries such as automotive,
telecommunications, aerospace and government agencies, but
is not yet widely accepted by other commercial markets.
The founding members of SGML Open include AIS, ArborText, Avalanche,
Computer Task Group, Database Publishing Systems, EBT, Fulcrum,
InfoDesign, Information Dimensions, Intergraph, Interleaf,
Open Text, Object Design, Officesmith/CTMG, Oracle, SoftQuad and
XSoft.
According to analysts, SGML has the potential to do for document-based
information what SQL did for proprietary databases. It allows
organizations to structure and manage information in a cross-platform,
application-independent way. The benefits to organizations include
the reduction or elimination of misinformation, lower costs and faster
time-to-market. Market research firm InterConsult estimates demand
for SGML products to reach $550 million by 1995.
SGML Open's objectives cover both technical and marketing issues:
to educate the commercial market about the advantages of SGML and
provide information to help organizations implement the standard;
and to provide a forum where vendors can resolve issues in applying
the standard to real-world applications by providing guidelines.
* * *
According to Frank Gilbane, "This important step forward signifies the
beginning of the real ascendancy of SGML as the commercial standard that
will allow true interoperability between data and documents."
#####
Ina Schiff
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