This does not define publishing procedures fully, because SGML permits adaptation by users. While the broad thrust of future developments is clear, aspects such as the range of manuscripts for which CIF to SGML translation will be preferred have yet to be determined. The IUCr's pilot electronic delivery of the World Directory of Crystallographers provided a network-accessible service, along with valuable experience. Originally, the Directory was to be based on STAR tools, no alternatives being available at that time. Since WWW links were installed, the electronic Directory has been used mainly in that mode.
Most users prefer standard protocols even when technical performance favours alternatives.
Further developments in electronic delivery are planned. Scientific importance would assign top priority to Acta Crystallographica Section D , but there are technical and financial counter-arguments. Protein crystallography depends on high-quality diagrams, for which the low information density of raster graphics is inefficient. For many applications, raster graphics' generality is offset by difficulty in synthesizing information - at which current computing technology competes unfavourably with more versatile human observers. High loads imposed by inefficient graphics protocols are tolerable on lightly used networks served by powerful hardware, but performance deteriorates rapidly as network loadings increase.