Mike,
While I can appreciate your championing to the cause and asking us "lurkers" to show ourselves, I feel that asking if RELAX NG as a perspective W3C XML Schema alternative/replacement is going "out on a limb" - much further than we are willing to go. For those of us who have worked with data exchange at an industry level for years, it is very important to remain focused on technologies that will enable true horizontal, global participation. While each of these "alternatives" show promising architecture and development realities, through proof of concept - we really need to circle back to the cause - a globally accepted and utilized schema with which to conduct business across all industries for the desired results. The W3C is the most logical body to hold this universally defined schema. The dilemma that we all face is ... which will actually persevere and become the "standard". I understand that this is a very large task, but it needs to occur to enable true payload exchange amongst all trading partners with minimal human intervention at a global level. Speaking from an industry level, I will expose our true concerns: we need a model that is supported by X12, DISA, Oasis, UN/Edifact (yes, all) that provides a proof of concept and overall consensus throughout global e-commerce participants, to initiate forward strategies. Sure, it is easy to say, but in reality is what (I perceive) is needed to make this effort successful. While I do not propose to be an expert in XML and the surrounding technologies needed to "make it so", my group is minimizing our systems development, resources and overall data exchange strategy, WAITING for a true globally adopted XML schema to be established. I am sure many in this group are in the same boat, and while have been following the xml-edi group exchange diligently, are in limbo. ebXML shows great promise - and upon reading Kotok and Webber's recent release, ebXML: The New Global Standard for Doing Business Over the Internet have considerable support - but what it amounts to is......are the existing standards bodies ready to step up to the plate and deem it so? If not, we need to identify any perceived flaws and work together to resolve them and bring this to fruition. Otherwise, like what is occurring today, we will all move forward with our own self-determined Schemas and work independently towards our individual goals. There are many opportunities that are available through XML technology that my industry can realize. BUT, many members in my group are unwilling to make the leap, due to the many "standards" available today. One last parting, "out on a limb" comment, is that yes, we are here....just waiting for the experts to champion enough of a case to the various standards bodies, to decide on what is the most optimal business Schema that enables a global data exchange platform, without major objections and move forward from there. Bring it on. Maureen Haney, Chair ISM Rail Industry Forum, Subcommittee on Information Standards Mike Rawlins <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> on 01/29/2002 07:34:59 PM Please respond to [EMAIL PROTECTED] To: XML/edi Group <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> cc: Subject: Re: [relax-ng] New article on RELAX NG vs W3C XML Schema Dave (and all), I'm glad I've stirred up a little discussion at least - shows that this list isn't completely dead. Yes, I agree with your points and do pretty much the same with my clients. But, that's not the point I was trying to address. What I'm really interested in is the mindshare beyond just the folks that might have engaged us to give technology recommendations. I was asking the readers of this list, based on their perceptions of those they work with, whether W3C schema or RELAX NG has the greatest traction in the market. No one has really answered that yet. The discussion has seemed to center more around the merits of both, and the proponents of RELAX NG seem ahead at this point. I get the feeling that otherwise folks don't care very much or else this list has a very small active readership. Cheers, Mike "david.leland" wrote: > Hi Mike; > > Although I'm in a different application area of the structured information > technology, I think the dynamics of the client interaction are much the same. > First I get the problem nailed down in an agreed document, then go through a > needs analysis, and then make a recommendation on some approaches to solve the > problem or implement the a system to give the desired result, within project > scope. > > I get sorted at the outset the fact that the client is relying on my knowledge > of the field, and implementation expertise. I make recommendations based on > my knowledge, not on their preconceptions. They're paying me to be the one > who knows these things to a greater level than they do, else they would not > need me. > > Hence, when I make a recommendation that is outside their knowledge, I make an > explanation as to the sufficiency and applicability of that recommendation. > At such a time I would explain what RELAX NG is and does, and possibly who > OASIS-Open is, and what they do. > > On the relative positions of W3C and OASIS-Open: W3C is a vendor consortium, > OASIS-Open is an open community of structured information professionals, > developers, implementors, vendors, users and interested parties. Both are > standards setting organisations recognised under ISO, and both are very active > in developing standards that are in use every day in structured information > processing. If your customers have not heard of OASIS-Open, have they heard > of DISA? of GCA? of IETF?, which are all standard setting orgs. Might it > not be up to you to leave them some new information as well as a new > deployment? > > Regards, > David Leland > > >===== Original Message From [EMAIL PROTECTED] ===== > >Thanks for pointing out the article, David. I *may* read it. But, I wonder > >this: Regardless of technical merits and deficiencies, does anyone outside > >of a small community of SGML/XML gurus really think that RELAX NG has a > >snowball's chance of success when considered against the mindshare and cachet > >of W3C schema? I really have no opinion on the issue, but try to meet the > >needs of my clients. What I hear from my clients and most of my colleagues > >is this: We're doing W3C schema because W3C sets the XML standards. This > >choice is primarily for business reasons and not technical reasons. They ask > >"What's RELAX NG?" Some of them even ask "Who's OASIS?" > > > >What does anyone else on this list think? Are your companies or clients > >aware of RELAX NG, or interested in it? > > > >Cheers, > > > >Mike > > > >David RR Webber - XMLGlobal wrote: > > > >> FYI, > >> > >> XML.com article. Examplotron is also cool > >> technology for defining context within EDI > >> structures...more on that anon!! > >> > >> DW. > >> > >> -------------Forwarded Message----------------- > >> > >> From: Eric van der Vlist, INTERNET:[EMAIL PROTECTED] > >> To: , INTERNET:[EMAIL PROTECTED] > >> > >> Date: 1/24/2002 1:09 PM > >> > >> RE: [relax-ng] New article on RELAX NG vs W3C XML Schema > >> > >> > >> I hope you'll enjoy reading it as much as I have enjoyed writing it! > >> > >> RELAX NG is like a breath of fresh air... > >> > >> http://www.xml.com/pub/a/2002/01/23/relaxng.html > >> > >> Eric > >> -- > >> Rendez-vous a Paris pour les Electronic Business Days 2002. > >> http://www.edifrance.org/ebd/index.htm > >> ------------------------------------------------------------------------ > >> Eric van der Vlist http://xmlfr.org http://dyomedea.com > >> http://xsltunit.org http://4xt.org http://examplotron.org > >> ------------------------------------------------------------------------ > >> > >> ------ XML/edi Group Discussion List ------ > >> Homepage > >> Unsubscribe Leave the subject and body of the message blank > >> > >> Questions/requests: [EMAIL PROTECTED] > >> > >> To receive only one message per day (digest format) > >> send the following message to [EMAIL PROTECTED], > >> (leave the subject line blank) > >> > >> digest xmledi-group your-email-address > >> > >> To join the XML/edi Group complete the form located at: > >> http://www.xmledi-group.org/xmledigroup/mail1.htm > > > >-- > >Michael C. Rawlins, Rawlins EC Consulting > >www.rawlinsecconsulting.com > > > > > > > > > >------ XML/edi Group Discussion List ------ > >Homepage = http://www.XMLedi-Group.org > > > >Unsubscribe = send email to: [EMAIL PROTECTED] > >Leave the subject and body of the message blank > > > >Questions/requests: [EMAIL PROTECTED] > > > >To receive only one message per day (digest format) > >send the following message to [EMAIL PROTECTED], > >(leave the subject line blank) > > > >digest xmledi-group your-email-address > > > >To join the XML/edi Group complete the form located at: > >http://www.xmledi-group.org/xmledigroup/mail1.htm -- Michael C. Rawlins, Rawlins EC Consulting www.rawlinsecconsulting.com ------ XML/edi Group Discussion List ------ Homepage = http://www.XMLedi-Group.org Unsubscribe = send email to: [EMAIL PROTECTED] Leave the subject and body of the message blank Questions/requests: [EMAIL PROTECTED] To receive only one message per day (digest format) send the following message to [EMAIL PROTECTED], (leave the subject line blank) digest xmledi-group your-email-address To join the XML/edi Group complete the form located at: http://www.xmledi-group.org/xmledigroup/mail1.htm ------ XML/edi Group Discussion List ------ Homepage = http://www.XMLedi-Group.org Unsubscribe = send email to: [EMAIL PROTECTED] Leave the subject and body of the message blank Questions/requests: [EMAIL PROTECTED] To receive only one message per day (digest format) send the following message to [EMAIL PROTECTED], (leave the subject line blank) digest xmledi-group your-email-address To join the XML/edi Group complete the form located at: http://www.xmledi-group.org/xmledigroup/mail1.htm
