Chris Johnson said (in red-rag-to-a-bull mode):
> Having devoted time to ensuring that we can process IMPDEF messages to
> generate converter tables, we are still desperately searching for MIGs
> expressed in this form to process. What use is a standard if nobody uses
> it?
That doesn't stop it being a standard and available for use so that when
a propery repository is introduced or mandated by someone with sufficient
clout, IMPDEF will be there and waiting.
> You can at least find a few SEF files around
The trouble with SEF (avoiding the old arguments about it being a proprietory
format although publically documented) is that it cannot actually carry an IC
in electronically 'ready-to-use' form. I know this at the sharp end because
I am currently converting a load of US Gov't ICs from SEF (and non-compliant
at that) into IMPDEF so that they can be electronically used directly. There
is significant human intervention necessary before they can be used.
> Even DIRDEF dried up four years ago. I believe that the messages for
> EDIFACT directories from D97 onwards have in fact been prepared by TIE,
> but they have not been approved, and cannot therefore be released.
DIRDEF is not IMPDEF. You will have to lay the blame for this firmly
at the UN/EDIFACT process, although to be fair, there are two or three
individual people who have been responsible for getting the DIRDEF MIG
prepared and ready for use and it simply has not been forthcoming. I
know this too from personal experience since the EWG Work Group that I
chair (D13) is responsible for rendering the UN DIRDEF MIG in IMPDEF
for simultaneous publication in text and IMPDEF as its electronic form.
I did one of the preliminary versions a year or so back, but the process
is still currently on hold awaiting resolution.
Jonathan
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