VDict - Definition of Standard Generalized Markup Language

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Standard Generalized Markup Language

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language, text (SGML) A generic markup language for

representing documents. SGML is an International Standard

that describes the relationship between a document's content

and its structure. SGML allows document-based information to

be shared and re-used across applications and computer

platforms in an open, vendor-neutral format. SGML is

sometimes compared to SQL, in that it enables companies to

structure information in documents in an open fashion, so that

it can be accessed or re-used by any SGML-aware application

across multiple platforms.

SGML is defined in "ISO 8879:1986 Information processing --

Text and office systems -- Standard Generalized Markup

Language (SGML)", an ISO standard produced by JTC 1/SC 18

and amended by "Amendment 1:1988".

Unlike other common document file formats that represent both

content and presentation, SGML represents a document's content

data and structure (interrelationships among the data).

Removing the presentation from content establishes a neutral

format. SGML documents and the information in them can easily

be re-used by publishing and non-publishing applications.

SGML identifies document elements such as titles, paragraphs,

tables, and chapters as distinct objects, allowing users to

define the relationships between the objects for structuring

data in documents. The relationships between document

elements are defined in a Document Type Definition (DTD).

This is roughly analogous to a collection of field

definitions in a database. Once a document is converted

into SGML and the information has been 'tagged', it becomes a

database-like document. It can be searched, printed or even

programmatically manipulated by SGML-aware applications.

Companies are moving their documents into SGML for several

reasons:

Reuse - separation of content from presentation facilitates

multiple delivery formats like CD-ROM and electronicpublishing.

Portability - SGML is an international, platform-independent,

standard based on ASCII text, so companies can safely store

their documents in SGML without being tied to any one vendor.

Interchange - SGML is a core data standard that enables

SGML-aware applications to inter-operate and share data

seamlessly.

A central SGML document store can feed multiple processes in a

company, so managing and updating information is greatly

simplified. For example, when an aeroplane is delivered to a

customer, it comes with thousands of pages of documentation.

Distributing these on paper is expensive, so companies are

investigating publishing on CD-ROM. If a maintenance person

needs a guide for adjusting a plane's flight surfaces, a

viewing tool automatically assembles the relevant information

from the document repository as a complete document. SGML

can be used to define attributes to information stored in

documents such as security levels.

There are few clear leaders in the SGML industry which, in

1993, was estimated to be worth US $520 million and is

projected to grow to over US $1.46 billion by 1998.

A wide variety tools can be used to create SGML systems. The

SGML industry can be separated into the following categories:

Mainstream Authoring consists of the key word processing

vendors like Lotus, WordPerfect and Microsoft.

SGML Editing and Publishing includes traditional SGML

authoring tools like ArborText, Interleaf, FrameBuilder

and SoftQuad Author/Editor.

SGML Conversions is one of the largest sectors in the market

today because many companies are converting legacy data from

mainframes, or documents created with mainstream word

processors, into SGML.

Electronic Delivery is widely regarded as the most compelling

reason companies are moving to SGML. Electronic delivery

enables users to retrieve information on-line using an

intelligent document viewer.

Document Management may one day drive a major part of the

overall SGML industry.

SGML Document Repositories is one of the cornerstone

technologies that will affect the progress of SGML as a data

standard.

Since 1998, almost all development in SGML has been focussed

on XML - a simple (and therefore easier to understand and

implement) subset of SGML.

\"ISO 8879:1986//ENTITIES Added Latin 1//EN\" defines some

characters. [How are these related to ISO 8859-1?].

ISO catalogue entry .

SGML parsers are available from

VU, NL ,

FSU ,

UIO, Norway .