SGML Development

Provisional statement:

Since the ISUG has official liaison status with ISO, there is an opportunity for members of the International SGML Users' Group to have access to ISO draft standards and ISO Working Group materials in order to provide technical comment on development and revision of ISO standards related to SGML. Members of the Group who are unable to participate at their national level can thereby have input to the review of ISO documents through the ISUG delegation to SC18. Activity of this nature is managed through the ISUG's private Web site [LINK].

The procedures for new levels of involvement by ISUG members have not been fully worked out, yet, but the plan and rationale are sketched in the "President's Report" from Newsletter Volume 2 Issue 4:

. . . It is our hope that Chapters of the SUG will set aside part of their agenda to review the ISO progress and contribute their thoughts, requirements, and recommendations to the process. As reported in the Minutes of the 1996 AGM (SGML Users' Group Newsletter Volume 2 Issue 3 July 1996), Charles Goldfarb has suggested that 'the national chapters themselves should offer to become the national equivalents of WG8 in those countries for which there is currently no equivalent to WG8. In other countries, where there is an active WG8, chapters can request the right to send members to the WG8 equivalent. This would lead to a direct vote, and some significant political clout in the standard making process.'

Participation at the working group (WG) level has decreased over the years since SGML was adopted. Above the WG8 level, there is almost complete ignorance about the use of the standard. 'The danger being that in the 5-year [review] life cycle of the standard, through neglect, the standard may be withdrawn.' Thus, even though the numbers of corporations and whole industries that use SGML may be growing exponentially, those who vote on its continuance may be uninformed about its following and need. The information contributed by Charles Goldfarb contained in this issue is a first step in providing you, the members of the SGML Users' Group, with the information you need to begin contributing to the ISO process. The SUG's class A liaison status does not allow us to vote, but does allow us to send delegations. Chapters which become their national body equivalent of ISO/IEC JTC 1/SC 18/WG 8 will, however, have a vote."