Draft Business Plan 2004

2.2.5 Use of XML

The issue of adoption of XML in the framework of ITSIG was debated during the past two ITSIG
meetings. Several domains of applicability were identified, notably XML for data exchange and
XML for authoring standards.

Having recognized the work already done in the field of data exchange with the development of
the ISONET XML-based Conversion/Extraction utility and the accompanying Compare and 
Download utilities, ITSIG decided to undertake a new project aiming at covering extensively the
definition of standards' metadata, to be based on the existing ISONET manual as well as on other
specifications used by industry groups. Progress in 2003 was limited, and ITSIG will review the
matter at the next plenary in New York, in November 2003.

ITSIG decided also to follow the initiative lead by JISC and Dr. Komachi to progress, with the
assistance from ISO/CS, with experimenting the use of XML DTDs and new authoring tools within
a small group of volunteers from SCs of JTC 1. Collaboration between Dr. Komachi and ISO/CS is
ongoing and the results will be discussed at the next ITSIG plenary. The matter is becoming more
sensitive, due to the fact that some SCs (primarily of JTC 1) have started to submit documents to
ISO/CS in XML format, applying different formats and conventions.