ISO/IEC JTC1/SC18/WG8 **N1107**

Title:

Report of the meeting of ISO/IEC JTC1/SC18/WG8, Bath, United Kingdom,
2╙8 May 1990

Source:

James D. Mason, WG8 Convenor

Project:

All WG8 projects

Project editor:

All editors

Status of document:

Draft report

Requested action:

For information

Summary of major points:

Summary report of the WG8 meeting, report of discussions at WG8 meeting

Date:

8 May 1990

Distribution:

WG8 and liaisons

Summary Report of the Spring Meeting of WG8, Bath

The attendance at the spring meeting of WG8 was again large: 34
participants were present during the sessions. This meeting had experts
representing seven national bodies (Canada, Denmark, Federal Republic of
Germany, Japan, Korea, United Kingdom, and United States), seven
external liaison bodies (SC18/WG1, SC18/WG3, SC18/WG9, SGML Users\'
Group, Association for Font Information Interchange, CERN, and ECMA
TC29/TGPF). Another group has now asked for liaison with WG8: the
European Mathematical Trust (EuroMath), a consortium of universities and
research centers that has requested WG8\'s assistance in developing SGML
applications for the interchange of scientific research.

The opening plenary was held on Wednesday, 2 May, with reports from
national bodies, liaison organizations, and project editors. After
status reports on the projects, the working group broke into project
sessions. There were major sessions for DSSSL, SPDL, and Fonts.
Additional work was done on several other projects.

Project Meetings

Model

The editor of the WG8 general model brought in a new text, which was
discussed during a special plenary session on Wednesday afternoon.
Several members of the group contributed additional text and
illustrations for the model, and the editor will incorporate these into
the next revision. SC18 has authorized distribution of another draft for
comment by the SC18 National Bodies and possible registration of the
model as an ISO/IEC Draft Technical Report.

SGML

WG8\'s (and also SC18\'s) oldest ISO standard, SGML (ISO 8879:1986) will
be coming up for mandatory five-year review in 1991. WG8 continues to do
preliminary studies towards that effort. SGML is also the basis of some
new projects that are generating considerable interest. Two projects,
the Standard Music Description Language (SMDL) and HyTime, a subset of
SMDL for hypertext/hypermedia applications, have been active in ANSI for
several years and now are being brought into ISO because
hypertext/hypermedia applications seem to be gaining attention there.
SGML-B is a proposed re-encoding of SGML structures in a binary format
(the current SGML is encoded in clear text); the new encoding is
expected to have advantages in data base and hypertext applications.

SGML Support Facilities

WG8 last year proposed a revision of the technical report Techniques for
Using SGML (ISO TR 9573), and the division of the report into several
volumes was accepted as part of a general revision of SC18\'s Programme
of Work. WG8 intends to extend current work on special-character
entities for scientific publishing, to incorporate some of the tutorial
portions from the SGML standard itself when the standard is revised, and
to absorb work that was done on a proposed technical report on
Retroactive Conversion over the past several years.

The standard for Registration of SGML Public Text Owner Identifiers (ISO
9070) has finally been published. WG8 has now proposed amendments to
9070 that should allow it to be extended as a general registration
standard for use by all of WG8\'s projects, not just SGML.

Text-Entry Systems

The project on SGML Syntax-Directed Editors has been out for a final
ballot as an ISO/IEC Technical Report. The editor will prepare a final
text for publication in the next few months. The other project on text
entry, Retroactive Conversion, has been merged into the Techniques
project.

DSSSL

The DSSSL group submitted their text for registration and ballot as an
ISO Draft Proposal last summer (ISO/IEC DP 10179); since that time they
have been reviewing the extensive comments received from the ballot. At
this meeting, the editor presented a new text that reorganizes the work
into language-centered issues and issues that reflect the application of
specific sets of semantics to SGML documents. Currently DSSSL
concentrates on the semantics of typographic style, but additional sets
of semantics may be developed in later iterations. At its next meeting
in Galway, Ireland, WG8 will decide whether DSSSL should go directly for
a ballot as a Draft International Standard (DIS) or a second DP (in the
future to be called Committee Draft, CD). Because the first DP ballot
received a majority of positive votes and the project has made great
progress since then, a DIS ballot is more likely.

SPDL

The SPDL group has also submitted a text for registration and ballot
(ISO/IEC DP 10180). Because of responses received on the ballot, they
have chosen between the two patterns of development that they had been
balancing: it is apparent that the publications industry has selected a
directionΩPostScriptΩand the SPDL standard will employ the predominant
industry direction. A consequence of this, and of the publication of the
previously proprietary details of the PostScript Type-1 font
specification, is that SPDL will have access to the most popular font
technology and that WG8\'s Fonts project will also reflect industry
practice. SPDL is being moved towards its next ballot as a DIS very
rapidly.

Fonts

The Fonts project has submitted three parts of their project for second
DIS ballotΩArchitecture and Interchange Format (DIS 9541-1 and ─2) and
Glyph Registration (DIS 10036). They have now begun work on glyph-shape
representation, as Part 3 of 9541. (Because SPDL, which needs to use
this material, is ahead of this new part in the ISO tracking scheme, the
text is temporarily being submitted also as an annex to SPDL.) The group
is also beginning work on a new project on Font Services, which deals
with management of font resources in a distributed network environment.

Results of the Meeting

WG8\'s projects have all moved much closer to becoming standards in the
past year. The chief impediments to their adoption now seem to be
political rather than technical, and we hope that the technical quality
of the work will overcome such obstacles.

Summary of Discussions

Wednesday: Opening Plenary

The meeting was opened by the Convenor. Paul Ellison welcomed the group
to Bath and explained logistical arrangements.

Liaison Reports, SC18

The business session began with reports from SC18 working groups and
other liaison bodies.

WG1 Yushi Komachi

WG1 has mostly been preparing for the SC18 Plenary. They have considered
the harmonization proposal they started and have decided that managing
harmonization at the national-body level is more appropriate. WG1 is
contributing a new document on Font Services for the upcoming liaison
meeting. The SPDL User Requirements are being edited according to the
new WG1 style guide. WG1 spent a lot of time on hypertext/hypermedia and
decided it is an issue of interest to all of SC18; they have prepared a
document based on the ANSI contribution (includes SMDL and HyTime). They
have also looked at the WG8 papers on structured names and have
suggested some extensions of the WG8 methodology.

WG3 Carsten Bormann

WG3 and WG5 have decided to disband the SWG on ODA Design Directions
because its work is largely done. WG5 will manage the development of
most of the addenda, and the two groups will meet together much of the
time.

WG4 John Fenn

WG4 is meeting in Paris while WG8 is in Bath; they may not resolve their
internal structuring problem.

WG5 John Fenn

The Audio Content Architecture (if approved) will be edited by John
Fenn; he will attempt to do it in separable pieces for notation and
connections to the 8613 architecture. The project on ODA on Storage
Media (DIS 10033) will be dropped as a separate standard and merged into
8613 itself.

WG9 Rudolf Riess

WG9 met in Tokyo in March. They are moving their work on Names of
Objects and Actions and on Icons to DP status. They keyboard standard is
being reduced to 8 parts; it will go out after the July meeting in
Stockholm.

Liaison Reports, external

AFII Ed Smura

The work on East Asian glyphs is continuing: a set of principles have
been agreed on, and a project at RIT to map national standards onto
glyph IDs should have results available by this summer. RIT also may
produce a graduate thesis on Arabic typefaces. AFII is building a
cross-reference guide between its glyph IDs and those in corporate
nomenclature schemes (e.g., IBM, Xerox, Adobe).

Euromath Paul Ellison

Euromath has funding from the EC and have started writing a DTD. Hugh
Tucker will be their liaison to WG8, and they will also work through the
SGML Users\' Group.

SC2 John Fenn

WG8 is working on coding for graphics. MHEG had a presentation by Steve
Newcomb (ANSI Music Project) on HyTime and SMDL.

National Activity Reports

ANSI

Charles Goldfarb reported that X3V1 has sent a reference model on
hypermedia to WG1. Sharon Adler reported that the DSSSL project has two
contributions, on interrelationships with SPDL and the WG8 model, the
other on the director and location models. Ed Smura reported that the
U.S. has a contribution on Type 1 fonts for Part 3 of 9541. Steve
Strasen and Curtis Jackson reported that there are new editors\' drafts
of SPDL available, they have considered inclusion of font information
into SPDL as an interim measure while Part 3 is being progressed.

Japan Yushi Komachi

The Japanese group has had four meetings; they have prepared a
contribution to the meeting on Font Services. They hosted an SGML Forum
at which Charles Goldfarb and Martin Bryan spoke; about 150 people
attended. The Japanese activity report is N1075.

Korea Jaechan Namkung

The Korean group meets every two months; at the April meeting they
worked on Korean glyphs.

United Kingdom Paul Ellison

There have been two meetings since January; the group has reviewed the
current documents and has comments on 9541-3.

Project Reports

SGML Charles Goldfarb

N1035 has been distributed to reflect the current state of thinking on
SGML. The SGML-B proposal is out for ballot; there will be a meeting on
SGML-B during this week. The ballot for SMDL/HyTime is also out; WG1
wants us to get these approved so we can keep activity moving in SC18
(SC2/WG12, MHEG, already has a project approved). We should probably put
HyTime on a fast track and let SMDL come along behind it.

Model John Oberholzer

A new draft, N1073, will be discussed in a special plenary on Wednesday
afternoon.

Editor

Mike Cowlishaw will attend the second week of the meeting to prepare
responses to the ballots before final publication of the TR.

DSSSL Sharon Adler

There is a new editor\'s draft, N1059, which reflects a reorganization
of the document to separate language processing from semantic
processing. A disposition of comments on the ballot is still in
progress. A number of contributions on the director model have been
received.

SPDL Steve Strasen and Curtis Jackson

The editors have prepared a new draft that includes a strawman for the
printing instructions and revised texts for the dictionary model, error
handling, color, and fonts. The new text also reflects some comments
from ECMA.

SGML Support Facilities Charles Goldfarb, Anders Berglund

The rapid amendment ballot for ISO 9070 to accommodate the expanded
naming scheme has been distributed by SC18. John Fenn commented that
SC21 has distributed a DIS on registration and naming that may affect
both WG4 and WG8. Goldfarb asked for a session to discuss a strategy for
the progression of ISO 9070.

The reballot on SGML Conformance testing closes on July 10.

Anders Berglund reported that one negative response had been received on
the ballot on restructuring TR 9573 (as part of a general SC18 ballot on
Programme of Work), and he would be seeking a group to reply to the
ballot during the week.

Fonts Ed Smura

Because 9541-1 and -2 and 10036 are out for ballot, most of the meeting
will be devoted to a review of the proposed text for 9541-3. As part of
that process, the fonts group will study the SPDL proposal for a set of
basic font metrics. The group will also prepare materials for the
Liaison Meeting with WGs 1 and 4. If Jim Flowers brings in some concrete
materials towards the Font Services project, those will also be
examined.

The group divided into working sessions for the rest of the meeting.
Wednesday afternoon was devoted to the Model. Running sessions were held
on DSSSL, SPDL and Fonts. During the week there were special sessions on
SGML issues, structured naming, and disposition of comments on the
Editor and Techniques reports. Several interproject meetings were held,
notably between SPDL and Fonts on the inclusion of glyph-shape
specifications in SPDL until Part 3 of 9541 is more advanced. Jim
Flowers also brought in a strawman text for Font Services to have a
starting point for the liaison meeting with WG1 and WG4.

Closing Plenary

Recommendation 1: Model

John Oberholzer reported that he had several discussions with members of
WG8 during the week and had received numerous comments. Ludo Van Vooren
had made extensive suggestions about the figures. WG8 requested that
SC18 allow it to distribute a text for CD registration during the next
year.

Recommendation 2: DSSSL editors\' text

Sharon Adler reported that the DSSSL group had continued to work on
disposition of comments received on the CD ballot. WG8 accepted N1102 as
editing instructions and authorized the editor of DSSSL to produce
another text by the September meeting.

Recommendation 3: Future progress of DSSSL

Ms. Adler reported that the group was undecided about which level to
ballot next; she recommended that WG8 seek authorization to go for DIS
ballot if sufficient progress was made before the next Plenary. Carsten
Bormann said that DIN\'s position so far is that a second CD ballot
should be held, and Paul Ellison said that BSI had a similar position.
Wording of the recommendation was adjusted to reflect that a
determination would be made later, and the recommendation was approved.
To help progress of the text, a SWG is scheduled for Berlin in October.

Recommendation 4: SPDL editors\' text

Steve Strasen noted the continued presence of font information in the
SPDL draft; the subject will be considered further in Galway. Paul
Ellison remarked that he was unsure whether it was advisable to carry
the metrics for a full 12 fonts in a standard.

Recommendation 5: Future progress of SPDL

Paul Ellison remarked that BSI had also desired a second CD ballot on
SPDL but that there would probably be less resistance to going directly
for DIS than in the case of DSSSL. John Fenn requested that the new text
be out well in advance of the meeting. WG8 approved the recommendation
to ask SC18 for permission to send a DIS ballot out before the next
Plenary.

Recommendation 6: Techniques for Using SGML

Anders Berglund reported that N1096 includes a disposition of the
Canadian comments on the portion of the SC18 ballot that pertained to
the restructuring of TR 9573. Sam Wilmott said Canada would accept the
disposition. WG8 approved N1096 and recommended continued work on the
restructured report.

Recommendation 7: SMDL and HyTime

WG8 forwarded N1077 and 1078 to SC18 for comments and authorized the
editor to prepare a Disposition of Comments and new texts for CD
registration and ballot if the NI proposal is accepted.

Recommendation 8: DTR 10037 ballot response

Mike Cowlishaw reported that N1098 was a Disposition of Comments
received so far; the U.K. comments are editorial only. WG8 accepted
N1098 and authorized Mr. Cowlishaw to deal with the U.K. comments and
prepare a final text for distribution to WG8 and publication by CS.

Recommendation 9: User Requirements for SGML-B

WG8 forwarded N1103 to WG1 as revised User Requirements for comment.

Recommendation 10: Fonts, Part 3

Ed Smura reported that the group wanted to move as rapidly as possible
on Part 3. WG8 accepted N1090 as editing instructions for 9541-3 and
authorized the editor to prepare a text for CD registration and ballot.
WG8 also recommended obtaining permission to go for DIS ballot during
the next year.

Recommendation 11: Font Services

Mr. Smura explained that because N1100 came in during the meeting as an
individual contribution (as a strawman to elicit comments), comments
should go directly to Jim Flowers, the contributor and the proposed
editor for Font Services.

Recommendation 12: Liaison Statements

N1087, on 9541 and CGM (to SC24/WG3)

Barbara Beeton explained that this document is a response to WG8 N1050,
which came from SC24, regarding amendments to CGM. WG8 will provide
further liaison after the ballot on 9541 closes. Several changes to the
draft text were made from the floor, and the document was accepted.

N1089, on SPDL and ODA Colour (to ECMA TC29)

Steve Strasen explained that this document called the attention of ECMA
to how certain technical matters were handled in the current editors\'
draft of SPDL. Bernadette St. John observed that editors\' drafts are
unofficial, and the document was tabled. A new text that did not refer
to the editors\' draft was later approved.

N1091, on User Requirements for SPDL (to WG1)

This is a confirmation notice to WG1 on the establishment of User
Requirements for SPDL.

N1092, Response to comments on SPDL (to Japanese National Body)

Paul Ellison requested that the text be altered to include a reference
to Recommendation 4 and to WG8 N 1086 and that these documents go with
the liaison; the liaison was approved.

N1095, on Structured Names (to SC18)

Charles Goldfarb explained that N1095 is the result of the second
session dealing with structured names. Its intent is to encourage SC18
to continue to seek generic solutions to the naming problem (and
reiterating that 9834 is not a sufficient solution to our needs), while
allowing WG8 to find solutions that will allow timely progression of
their standards. The document was approved after editorial changes from
the floor.

N1099, on Document Processing Instructions in SPDL (to U.S. National
Body)

The document was approved with editorial changes.

N1101, Response to comments on DSSSL (to Japanese National Body)

The document was approved with editorial changes.

N1104, Response to comments on N1047 (to SC24/WG3)

The document was approved with editorial changes.

N1105, on SPDL and CGM (to SC24)

The document was approve.

Recommendation 13: Programme of Work

WG8 accepted N1061 as a representation of its Programme of Work.

Recommendation 14: Thanks to hosts for the meeting

WG8 thanked Paul Ellison and the SEMA Group for hosting the Bath meeting
Lisa Cushney, Anne Johnston, and Elizabeth Giles for assistance in the
WG8 office.

Further business

The meeting was adjourned until September 1990, in Galway, Ireland.