"Abstract: Since every aspect of the business process is under continuous scrutiny, and remaining competitive in today's global marketplace demands that we redefine the ways in which we do business, IBM has pioneered the Electronic Purchasing Service, founded on the cornerstone of SGML.

"The Electronic Purchasing Service (EPS) was designed as a way to provide IBM's vendor customers with a way of reducing costs and improving control, while providing a better level of service to their own customer bases. The Electronic Purchasing Service is an advanced, network-based sales and procurement solution that allows end users to locate, compare and purchase items directly through electronic catalogs. With its preeminence as a electronic document exchange standard and its focus on reusability, SGML was deemed ideal for this electronic commerce application. Therefore, IBM Thornwood has used the Standard Generalized Markup Language to develop an electronic catalog application.

"The presentation will cover the four basic tasks or stages in the implementation of the Electronic Purchasing Service application: (1) planning the Electronic Purchasing Service application; (2) capturing the data in SGML format; (3) managing the information with SGML tools; (4) putting it to work. This session will briefly describe the most important functions in each of these stages, and the kinds of tools IBM used in performing them."

Abstract: "DSSSL, the Document Style Semantics and Specification Language, is ISO/IEC 10179, an International Standard for the formatting and other processing of SGML documents. DSSSL was completed in January 1996 after eight (8) years of development. From its inception, DSSSL was conceived as a companion standard to SGML, where SGML is a language for standardizing the way we represent document structures without regard to form or presentation. It is possible to use SGML markup to represent formatting information, but this is discouraged, since doing so makes a document more difficult to reuse and reprocess. Reuse is generally a significant requirement for SGML data so it is not a good idea to 'pollute' your document with presentational markup. Yet formatting of some nature is still desirable, and sometimes critical, for all documents, and in some cases users want to interchange this formatting information (informally known in the industry as style sheets) in a standardized, non-proprietary format. DSSSL is key to enabling this interchange."

Abstract: "We study the problem of automatic generation of a document type definition (DTD) for a set of Standard Generalized Markup Language (SGML) documents. We present various situations where we have tagged documents but no DTD, and discuss the requirements various applications may have with respect to the generation process. We also present an automatic DTD generation tool that can be adjusted for several tasks necessary in the applications. The method is also demonstrated with some experimental cases."

Abstract: "A Standard Generalized Markup Language (SGML) document has a document type definition (DTD) that specifies the allowed structures for the document. The basic components of a DTD are element declarations that contain for each element a content model, i.e., a regular expression that defines the allowed content for this element. The SGML standard requires that the content models of element declarations are unambiguous in the following sense: a content model is ambiguous if an element or character string occurring in the document instance can satisfy more than one primitive token in the content model without look-ahead. A. Bruggemann-Klein and D. Wood (1992; 1994) have studied the unambiguity of content models, and they presented an algorithm that decides whether a content model is unambiguous. We present a disambiguation algorithm that, based on the work of Bruggemann-Klein and Wood, transforms an ambiguous content model into an unambiguous one by generalizing the language. We also present some experimental results obtained by our implementation of the algorithm in connection to an automatic DTD generation tool."

Abstract: "We consider assembling documents using, as a source, a digital library containing SGML documents. The assembly process contains two parts: 1) finding interesting fragments, and 2) constructing a coherent document. We present a general document assembly framework. First, we describe a system for tailoring control engineering textbooks. Its assembling facilities are rather restricted but, on the other hand, the quality of documents produced is high. Second, we address the problem of filtering and combining interesting information from a large heterogeneous document collection. The methods presented offer various ways to find the interesting document fragments. Moreover, the elements found in the fragments are mapped to generic elements, like sections, paragraph containers, paragraphs and strings, which have known semantics. Hence, even arbitrary compositions can be formatted and printed."

Abstract: "Computers support the management of large collections of text documents, but efficient reuse of document collections for producing new documents remains inherently difficult. We describe and discuss the design and implementation of a document assembly system based on a document assembly model, where the user produces new specialized documents by querying and browsing a collection of structured document fragments."

"We describe a document assembly model and architecture, which we have developed to study principles and methods of intelligent document reuse. The work is done in an ongoing research and development project called "Structured and Intelligent Documents (SID)". Document assembly is a central goal application of the project. As the basis for the project we consider structured documents marked up using SGML. We have developed a document assembly framework based on versatile recognizing and manipulating of document fragments, which are consistent and relatively independent document parts used as the basis for new assemblies. Similar ideas recur at document manipulation and IR meetings under different names, such as passages, semantic fragments, information units, minimal revisable units, or micro documents. The assembly framework is not inherently SGML specific, but the possibility of using generic semantic document markup and the existence of tools for a standardized formalism makes the implementation of a document assembly system based on the fragment framework much easier. [Conclusion]: We have presented a model and an implementation of a system for intelligent document assembly. The system uses a database of SGML documents from which the user assembles new documents. The assembly is based on document fragments: the user chooses among document parts and selects appropriate fragments to be included in a new document. The assembly system supports browsing and reorganizing of the fragments as well as some more sophisticated techniques such as cluster-based browsing and structured search. The system is in a prototype phase and we are just beginning to evaluate the usefulness of our assembly model. We expect that further prototyping with document assemblies will reveal some real challenges, like managing explicit and implicit dependencies between document fragments."

Abstract: "Document retrieval based on string searches typically returns either the whole document or just the occurrences of the searched words. What the user often is after, however, is microdocument: a part of the document that contains the occurrences and is reasonably self-contained."

"These microdocuments might, for instance, consist of several successive text paragraphs sharing a mutual subject. Single paragraphs, or corresponding close-to-leaf SGML elements, do not convey enough of the contextual information. On the other hand, sections or subsections of a text document, such as a book or an article, can discuss many heterogeneous topics, and thus be too large a unit for retrieval or assembly.

"We claim that such microdocuments are both suitable retrievable units and appropriate units for document assembly, and that they can be reasonably well located using automatic techniques.

"Optimal creation of microdocuments would require thorough semantic analysis of the text. However, it is possible to catch parts of the elementary semantic content by statistical term-frequency analysis.

"Term-frequency distributions enable us to determine the locations of possible topic changes in the text. Based on this information, we can measure the similarity of two successive elements, and decide whether we wish to have them in the same microdocument. On the other hand, existing markup, for example classifying attributes, can be used in boundary detection. The microdocument, again, can be attributed with content information.

"The results of our preliminary experiments show that the presented approach works well in user-assisted topic-oriented microdocument detection. We currently study the usefulness of this technique in document assembly, i.e., in generating new documents from a collection of existing text documents."

[...] "We consider a topical microdocument to be semantically motivated by the topic the microdocument discusses. Topical microdocuments might, for instance, consist of several successive text paragraphs. Single paragraphs, or corresponding close-to-leaf SGML elements, do not convey enough of the contextual information. On the other hand, sections or subsections of a text document, such as a book or an article, can discuss many heterogeneous topics. Furthermore, sections are often longer than desired with respect to the intended purpose, such as document retrieval or assembly.

In this article, we presented a method for detecting microdocuments based on term-frequency distributions. The detection process has two phases: similarity calculation and fragmentation. In general, the results of our preliminary experiments show that the presented approach works well in user-assisted topic-oriented microdocument detection. We currently study the usefulness of this technique in document assembly, i.e., in generating new documents from a collection of existing text documents.

"Abstract: We describe a technique for forming a context free grammar for a document that has some kind of tagging -- structural or typographical -- but no concise description of the structure is available. The technique is based on ideas from machine learning. It forms first a set of finite-state automata describing the document completely. These automata are modified by considering certain context conditions; the modifications correspond to generalizing the underlying languages. Finally, the automata are converted into regular expressions, which are then used to construct the grammar. An alternative representation, characteristic k-grams, is also introduced. Additionally, the paper describes some interactive operations necessary for generating a grammar for a large and complicated document."

"Abstract: We consider the problem of generating grammars for classes of structured documents -- dictionaries, encyclopedias, user manuals, and so on -- from examples. The examples consist of structures of individual documents, and they can be collected either by converting typographical tagging of documents prepared for printing into structural tags, or by using document recognition techniques. Our method forms first finite-state automata describing the examples completely . These automata are modified by considering certain context conditions; the modifications correspond to generalizing the underlying language. Finally, the automata are converted into regular expressions, and they are used to construct the grammar. In addition to automata, an alternative representation, characteristic k-grams, is in-troduced. Some interactive operations are also described that are necessary for generating a grammar for a large and complicated document."

"Abstract: Recent advances in structured editing systems have put the emphasis on an important problem, which prevents structured editing systems from being used as easily as other document preparation systems: type transformation. This paper identifies two aspects of the problem. Dynamic transformations allow a structured editor to change the structure of a part of a document when this part is copied or moved to different places in the document or when it is restructured by the user. Static transformations allow specific tools to restructure documents when their generic structrure is modified. Various types of such transformations are analyzed and the specific tools implemented in the Grif system are presented."

Abstract: "The problem of direct access to Web data from within business applications has until recently been largely ignored. The Web Interface Definition Language (WIDL) is an application of the eXtensible Markup Language (XML) which allows the resources of the World Wide Web to be described as functional interfaces that can be accessed by remote systems over standard Web protocols. WIDL provides a practical and cost-effective means for diverse systems to be rapidly integrated across corporate intranets, extranets, and the Internet."

Abstract: "SGML documents can be large and complex, composed of many parts in various formats. These parts may be entities, subdocuments, or other SGML documents that are linked to as part of the content of an enframing document."

"Such a compound document may consist of an SGML declaration, a DTD (which may be composed of modules stored in separate files), a document entity (where the DOCTYPE declaration appears and in which parsing begins), external entities, other SGML documents, and noncharacter data (such as pictures and sounds). Beyond that, a document may require style sheets, fonts, an SGML Open catalogue, a 'readme' file, a statement of conditions of use, digital signatures, authentication information, and on and on.

"In this paper I'll point out some circumstances under which one might need to package together some or all of the items comprising a full compound document, describe some advantages of and requirements for packaging, briefly mention some existing packaging schemes, and outline my own suggested solution."

"If SGMLlers want to control their own destiny in archival preservation, copyright, and commerce, it would be wise to take up the challenge of packaging specifically for SGML (and XML), or at least come to agreement on what requirements a packaging system must meet. If we don't figure out packaging, someone else may do so in ways we find painful. Our first attempt, MIMESGML, seems to have failed because it was too complex. I hope the simpler solution I've offered has the clarity necessary for success."

Abstract: "This talk looks at different approaches to introducing SGML, at different perceptions of the language and related technology, and at the changing nature of the audience for SGML. It is for those who are just being introduced to SGML and for those who must now make the case for SGML within their organization or industry."

Summary: "There is a growing consensus that healthcare records, including the individual patient record, will be gathered, managed, and distributed electronically, but there is little consensus on how this will be done. One study estimates that fewer than five percent of providers have determined how they will computerize patient records. In this climate, where our second largest industry has yet to establish an informational infrastructure, what does SGML (Standard Generalized Markup Language) have to offer? What are the prospects of large-scale use of SGML-based technology? How does use of SGML relate to other standards efforts?

"This paper examines the place of SGML within healthcare informatics, reports on some recent work demonstrating the application of SGML to healthcare records, and discusses the relationship between SGML-based standards for healthcare and other standards initiatives. It concludes with a brief discussion of one type of SGML architecture and applications envisioned for healthcare."

Abstract: "The paper introduces a new initiative for SGML in the medical informatics industry. It describes the current state of information processing in medicine, gives some of the requirements for a new, SGML-based approach to medical information processing, introduces the group working for the introduction of SGML into medical informatics and gives a brief description of the umbrella medical information standard called HL7 under which the new initiative is working. The paper concludes with a summary of the challenges facing the new initiative and an invitation to all to participate and contribute. Up-to-date information on contacts and programs will be available at the conference session."

"Abstract: Most existing text processors represent text simply as a string of characters. By incorporating linguistic representations into text processing systems, the accuracy of existing text processing facilities can be improved, and new facilities can be created. The architecture of an author environment for Dutch containing several linguistic modules is described. These modules enable a text processing system to maintain and use phonological, morphological, lexical and syntactic representations. Similar modules for English are being developed."

Abstract: "This paper is a case study based on Steve Anderson's experiences at Rover Group, designing and building, an integrated SGML authoring, management and publication solution. Rover's TiMS system brings together leading SGML editing tools with sophisticated repository software, to support the process of authoring and managing shared corporate information in a supportive, structured environment, and to enable that information to be published in a variety of formats. Rovers system also provides full support for translated text in all formats, radically reducing the cost of managing multilingual translations."

"Abstract: An experience of interactively typing and editing a text according to a given layout-sheet is shown. A "what-you-see-is-what-you-get" (WYSIWYG) prototype system, Grif, has been used. Then the text and its structure have been sent to MINT to be formatted and printed according to a specific layout-sheet. This approach obliges an author, without undue constraints, to respect the style-sheet described by an editor. At the same time this case study shows the feasibility of merging the flexibility found in an abstract-oriented approach with the naturalness of document manipulation provided by WYSIWYG editors."

"Abstract: Grif is a system dedicated to interactive preparation, modification and editing of structured documents. It is specifically designed for professional documents, such as technical documentation or commercial books. In this paper, the Grif system is first described. Then, specific problems posed by the considered documents are quoted (multi-author documents, composite documents, cooperative editing, reusability, version control, quality, etc.) and the way Grif solves these problems is exhibited. With these capabilities, Grif may be considered as an environment for 'document engineering' that provides documents with the same kind of services as [the] 'software engineering' environment provides to programs."

Abstract: "Grif est un système interactif pour la production et la consultation de documents structurés professionnels, notamment ceux de la documentation technique ou de l'édition. Après avoir rappelé les principes de base de ce système, nous citons quelques-unes des tâches et des problèmes spécifiques aux milieux éditoriaux (documents multi-auteurs, documents composites ou secondaires, travail coopératif, réutilisation, gestion de versions, qualitée, etc.) que nous comparons à ceux du génie logiciel.

Nous montrons alors comment Grif peut être vu comme une première étape vers la définition d'un 'atelier éditorial'."

Abstract: "This paper examines whether (or not) HyTime is an essential feature of a document management system. Scenarios for the appropriateness (or inappropriateness) of indirect linking are reviewed. Ways in which a document management system can help (or hinder) management of links are examined. Should (or shouldn't) a document management system treat HyTime markup as more than ordinary SGML?

"With the addition to HyTime of several annexes in the Technical Corrigendum (TC), HyTime becomes a broader framework for describing generalized SGML-based architectures. The potential impact of these far-reaching topics on document management systems is discussed."

Abstract: "This paper examines the aspects of hyperlinking that are relevant to document management systems. Various standard mechanisms for hyperlinking -- XML, HyTime, and HTML -- are reviewed and their relative merits discussed. Ways in which document management systems can facilitate link creation, maintenance, and delivery are presented, along with their effect on integrated authoring and delivery systems."

"Traditionally, the topic of hyperlinking has been primarily discussed in the context of distribution, viewing, and display systems. This paper examines the requirements put on document management systems, and in turn, integrated authoring tools for creation and management of hyperlinks. One of the distinguishing characteristics of hyperlink management in a document management environment versus a display environment is the dynamic nature of the information to which the hyperlinks apply. Fixed linking schemes layered onto static information are no longer sufficient. Changes in information imply the need for linking mechanisms that can adapt to changed resources, ongoing validation that links are still valid, and the need for creation of additional links."

Abstract: "To provide report program developers [with] a single output format, while allowing multiple presentation formats, we are using an SGML language based on HTML tables. The reporting programs generate the SGML documents which are translated into HTML, LaTeX or ASCII depending on the needs of the users."

The project relates to a "myriad of reports" produced for Lucent Technologies': "5ESS-200 is a large telephone switch involving the work of thousands of developers. The ADEPT project tracking system records the work items, completion dates, quality records and other information to assure the project conforms to its processes. [...] Each report program generates a complete SGML document. These are then run through the sgmls parser. The parse tree that results is analyzed by a translation program that converts the SGML tags and their contents to the appropriate statements in the presentation language. [...] We use marked sections to hide the embedded SGML from the parser when the error file is processed. We have extended our definition of reports to include printouts of the forms customers fill out on the screen. The form printing system also generates SGML which passes through the translation system to be printed. We are examining how DSSSL and XML could alter our translation mechanism."

"Our project is different than many other uses of SGML as the SGML documents are transitory and limited in nature. Once the SGML is generated and translated, it is deleted. We believe that using SGML as a report writing language provides several benefits. It is easy to understand and write, it provides independence from the presentation mechanism and results in smaller, easier to understand report code."

"Abstract: The amazing success of the World-Wide Web (the Web for short) as a hypermedia electronic document delivery system on top of the Internet has had a profound effect on the visibility of SGML (Standard Generalized Markup Language). Based on the use of HTML (HyperText Markup Language), the Web has become the world's largest and most successful SGML application. However, opinion remains strongly divided on whether we have to start using full-blown SGML to put electronic documents on the Web, or whether we can stick to using simple HTML. In this article I will argue that the conflict between SGML and HTML is unnecessary, since both have an important role to fulfil on the Web. At present, the most appropriate use of SGML on the Web appears to be as a "back-end" content markup language, while HTML appears to be best suited as the "front-end" presentation markup language. Only for those applications that need special functionalities not yet supported by HTML (such as intelligent search or user-specific presentation) does it make sense to use full-blown SGML on the Web."

Abstract: "Text has a special place in the digital library as the primary medium of human communication. While sometimes a picture may be worth a thousand words, more often, the best way to convey any complex thought is through text. The reason is simple; the richness of concepts, the detail, and the precision of ideas that can be expressed in words are remarkable. This talks looks at the role of text in digital libraries and attempts to place the various methods for managing text in context. A theme of the talk is the trade-off between generality and simplicity. Generality is the great strength of SGML and also its principal weakness. Simple formats are easier for the non-specialist to learn and easier for interoperability in distributed computing, but fail when asked to do too much. The early success of HTML is a fine example of simplicity; more recent troubles show what happens when simplicity is abandoned in a piecemeal fashion. Digital libraries are interested in both ends of the spectrum. At the high end, libraries must support every language and character set in the world, past or present. They must work with mathematics, music, chemical symbols, and special formats from every discipline. However, while accepting high-end formats, such as the encoding used by the Text Encoding Initiative, libraries ask questions about the long term [...] Unicode is emerging as the extended character set of choice, partly because the developers have been steadfast in providing compatibility with other standards, notably ASCII. The introduction of XML is paying close attention to these factors, thus greatly increasing the chance of broad acceptance."

Abstract: "This paper proposes an architecture for a system which accepts Amending Acts expressed in SGML and produces a database of resulting versions of the Principal Acts, and describes its implementation. The paper discusses the core natural language processing module which uses an ATN to parse the components of the Acts into a frame representation of amendment actions. This representation is then used to produce database transactions which add the subsequent versions to the database."

"[Introduction] The following paper gives a report of a concordnce project, where the computer is used as a tool for preparing the data and typesetting. The focus will be on the use of a SGML format as the central interface between the data of the old edition of the concordance, the complete text of the bible, and the new data ready for typesetting. Ending in a printed version the project demonstrates how to make the advantages of a computer fruitful for those people who never will touch such a machine."

"Abstract: The profession of technical writing requires a variety of tools and skills to develop and deliver quality information products, such as paper documentation, online documents and training. The time we require to acquire and effectively use our development tools is constantly increasing. The time available to acquire and communicate subject matter expertise is decreasing as a result. The paper presents a strategy to free up more time for writers who want to and need to write. This model is based on specialization of functions, allowing writers to focus on writing while supporting members of the information development team provide a structure for deploying the information products in whatever form the customer requires (such as: online tutorial, quick reference card, user guide, functional specification). The writers take a more active role in directly researching customer requirements for information products. Once determined, the writers are responsible to communicate them to the support group and delegate related maintenance. The paper chronicles the evolution of an actual information development support/process/tools team, and the services that it has provided in the interest of supporting our virtual information warehouse. The paper also presents a strategy for future directions of such an information development support team and the consumers of both its products and services."

Abstract: "Even if font usage plays an important role in document image analysis (DIA), recognition systems generally take the concept of font management in a weaker sense than in the production cycle. With the point of view of the document recognition community, the authors show how typographic information (characters bitmap, metrics, etc.) can improve existing analysis methods. After a brief survey of font recognition issues, they present the advantages of a font software support in the design of recognition systems. Concrete algorithms are proposed in the subtopics of a posteriori font recognition, monofont optical character recognition (OCR), and word segmentation. The reported experiments and results indicate that there are still substantial benefits to expect from the design of typography-aware analyzers."

Abstract: "The Text Encoding Initiative is an international collaboration aimed at producing a common encoding scheme for complex texts. The diversity of the texts used by members of the communities served by the project led to a large specification, but the specification is structured to facilitate understanding and use. The requirement for generality is sometimes in tension with the requirement to handle specialized text types. The texts that are encoded often can be viewed or interpreted in several different ways. While many electronic documents can be encoded in very simple ways, some documents and some users will tax the limits of any fixed scheme, so a flexible extensible encoding is required to support research and to facilitate the reuse of texts."

Abstract: "The annual SGML Conference provides the opportunity to focus on technology, expand our level of knowledge, exchange ideas and experiences with others in similar or related environments. Once the week is concluded, however, we are challenged to sustain the momentum that's been attained. This does not mean that one should only wait for the next year's conference; much can be done in the interim to continue the pursuit of knowledge and exchange of information. Many communities have organized local forums, specifically designed to address these concerns. This talk will focus on some of the major issues in establishing and maintaining such an organization."

Abstract: "Caterpillar, Inc. has developed a new document information system that emphasizes the reusability of Information Elements (shared objects) in multiple documents, the automatic compilation of objects into a document, and the reusability of documents on multiple media. Based on ISO and military standards, the new information system will improve accuracy, consistency, efficiency, timeliness, and costs. This paper describes the issues that led to the system's design, pitfalls in its implementation and operation, and details the anticipated benefits."

"Caterpillar is the world's leading producer of earth-moving equipment and industrial gas turbine engines and a leading global supplier of diesel engines. Caterpillar sells over 300 products with a service life as long as fifty years or more. To support distributors in over 120 countries, Caterpillar communicates in 35 different languages. [. . .] The division implementing this new system is Caterpillar's Technical Information Division (TID) which has worldwide responsibility for producing the documentation needed to operate and service its products. TID's 300 authors and illustrators produce 800 new pages of English documentation every business day -- and Caterpillar routinely translates those 800 pages into as many as 14 languages. Today the TID group is made up of 15 groups with over 400 writers total, a total of 600 writers is expected by the end of 1997. [...]Caterpillar's New Authoring System is based on standards. They selected SGML for text and documents; TIFF, IGES, and CGM for graphics; and output specifications based on MIL-PRF-28001 for page composition. Through the use of these standards, Caterpillar was able to integrate tools from multiple vendors to support their ambitious goals.

Abstract: "In 1986, the Standard Generalized Markup Language (SGML) became an international standard for the format of text and documents. SGML has withstood the test of time. Its popularity is rapidly increasing among organizations with large amounts of document data to create, manage, and distribute. However, various barriers exist to delivering SGML over the Web. These barriers include the lack of widely supported stylesheets, complex software because of SGML's broad and powerful options, and obstacles to interchange of SGML data because of varying levels of SGML compliance among SGML software products.

"Because mainstream Web browsers lack SGML support, most applications that deliver SGML over the Web convert the SGML to HTML. This down-translation removes much of the intelligence of the original SGML information. That lost intelligence virtually eliminates information flexibility and poses a significant barrier to reuse, interchange, and automation.

"The Extensible Markup Language (XML) is being developed to enable delivery of SGML information over the Web while overcoming the limitations of HTML. The momentum building behind the XML effort means that XML is inevitably destined to become the mainstream technology for powering broadly functional and highly valuable business applications on the Internet, intranets, and extranets."

"Abstract: There is a growing conviction that the Standard Generalized Markup Language (SGML) can play an important role as an enabling technology to increase access to information for blind and partially sighted people. This paper reports on mechanisms that have been devised to build in accessibility into SGML encoded electronic documents, concentrating on the work done in the CAPS Consortium-Communication and Access to Information for People with Special Needs, a European Union funded project in the Technology Initiative for Disabled and Elderly People (TIDE) Programme-and by ICADD, the International Committee on Accessible Document Design.

"Abstract: There is a growing conviction that the Standard Generalized Markup Language, SGML, can play an important role as an enabling technology to increase access to information for blind and partially sighted people. The paper reports on mechanisms that have been devised to build in accessibility into SGML encoded electronic documents, concentrating on the work done in the CAPS Consortium-Communication and Access to Information for People with Special Needs, a European Union funded project in the Technology Initiative for Disabled and Elderly People (TIDE) Programme-and by ICADD, the International Committee on Accessible Document Design. The CAPS follow-on project, HARMONY, is briefly described.

"Abstract: The authors describe the components and methods for a fully interactive course in technical writing, offered through the Rhetoric and Professional Writing Program at the University of Waterloo. The term course described in the paper is available as a credit or non-credit option and its composite modules on specific writing topics can be extrapolated and presented individually for business and educational training programs. It consists of some thirteen learning modules, search tools and reference resources, the InContext 2 SGML editor, and communications software to link students with each other and their instructors with institutions and sites across the World Wide Web."

"Abstract: Abstract This is a tale of a typesetter who has taken the SGML route for producing pages of text for its customers. Fotek Grafische Bedrijven is situated in Sint Niklaas, Belgium. A sister company has been set up in Hitchin, near London, in the United Kingdom. Another sister company is in the process of being set up near Namur. W e are typesetters, some of you may regard us as dinosaurs or something from the dark ages... We actually get paid for putting pages on paper!... Isn't that a quaint, old fashioned idea!!! The fact is, of course, that many of the organizations and companies that you, the reader, work for also derive their income directly or indirectly from producing final output, be it on paper or in some other media. We have chosen to relate our experiences of SGML from our early contacts with the standard, our examination of available tools and software (and the problems encountered), to the questions we asked ourselves and finally, our reasons for arriving at our final decision to develop our own solution aimed specifically at what we will call the 'back-end' (side) of the SGML environment."

Abstract: SGML is intended to be the Standard Generic Markup Language providing the framework for marking up a document in a way that should be processable by products from different vendors and for different output devices.

Abstract: "This presentation aims at giving an understanding of the work with STEP and SGML/XML integration, the reasons for it and current status of work. It begins with a presentation of the STEP standard and its parts, and discusses what the relations between STEP and SGML/XML are, and what inter-operability between the two might provide.

"A few current initiatives or projects will also be covered, with the Hägglunds LOTS project presented in somewhat more detail, being one of the more advanced STEP and SGML projects so far. Finally, a status report of the current standardization efforts within the STEP and SGML/XML communities will be given."

"STEP is an international standard, ISO 10303 'Product Data Representation and Exchange'. The former name was 'Standard for the Exchange of Product Model Data', thereby the acronym STEP. The objective with the series of standards that together are called STEP is to define a common way to describe product model information for the product's complete life-cycle, independently from the software used. [...] Today, efforts are spent to make STEP more open, i.e., to permit STEP to cooperate with other standards. An example of that is the efforts to achieve inter-operability between STEP and SGML."

"Enator Information Management has many years of experience in system solutions based on Enator Information Management has many years of experience in system solutions based on SGML and related standards, and carries out information analyses, information structuring, DTD design and construction as well as SGML-based system implementation.

"The necessity of using standards when trying to preserve the value of information in a changing business environment is quite well-known today, but the use of several standards simultaneously and the integration of them has not been discussed too much, even within the CALS initiative. This drama in one act will put emphasis on the benefits of integrating standards rather than choosing one of them, which in several cases is essential for success. The differences between the product model standard STEP (ISO 10303) and SGML, and thereby the strengths of each, will be illustrated by a fictive business scenario that focuses on the reasons why an integration of standards is essential for success."

Abstract: "This presentation examines the benefits of structured data files, compares different file formats (SGML, HTML, PDF, and XML) and their suitability for various deliveries, and discusses criteria for selection of structured authoring tools from the perspective of the user of the tools, the technical writer. The presentation is intended for people new to structured authoring who may have become interested in the topic because of the popularity of the new XML standard, and would benefit from hearing about structured authoring environments in general and how SGML, HTML, PDF, and XML fit into the picture."

Abstract: "This presentation looks at using multiple DTDs for different stages in the life of a given piece of information, and examines the issues that should be taken into account when designing DTDs for a given application and deciding just how many DTDs are required.

A number of different models (e.g., a single DTD for the entire process; one DTD for authoring, another for storage, another for output, etc.) are examined, and the pros and cons for each are discussed. These considerations include the costs for each model (cost of maintaining multiple DTDs as well as the transform filters placed between them, versus the inefficiency of authoring with a single huge DTD), as well as the question of 'roll your own' versus using industry-standard DTDs."

Abstract: "Several studies have tried to address the topic of Object Orientation around SGML.

The question asked was too simple and dichotomic; the answer given far too simple 'yes' or 'no'. The SGML application aspect, that is not covered by the standard, was not considered when searching for commonalities.

This paper intends to show that some application architectures coupled with an SGML parser offer an object mechanism with embedded SGML.

The relation between the parsed tokens and the application methods shows that application objects are connected to parsing objects in a simple and efficient paradigm which fully conforms to the LINK feature of the SGML language.

Adopting this view of an SGML application, makes all the facilities offered by the LINK feature suddenly self-evident and useful."

Abstract: "SGML information systems usually come into being in the form of small-scale prototype systems supporting a few users and a relatively small set of representative documents. After a successful proof-of-concept phase comes the time of production on a larger scale where the problems encountered are of a totally different nature from those uncovered during the prototyping phase.

"This paper addresses scalability of SGML authoring and dissemination systems. An area highlighted is the need to have a set of detailed production procedures taking into account human as well as automated operations."

"SGML information systems usually come into being in the form of small-scale prototype systems supporting a few users and a relatively small set of representative documents. After a successful proof-of-concept phase comes the time of production on a larger scale where the problems encountered while growing to a full-scale production system are of a totally different nature from those uncovered during the prototyping phase. For example there are the different and sometimes contradictory constraints of the authoring and dissemination systems, which often show up only in high-volume/high-update rate conditions. This paper addresses scalability. Neglecting the more obvious aspects of scalability it highlights some issues, which are not always considered when designing complex document management systems. One aspect highlighted is the need to have a set of detailed production procedures which are adhered to in order to avoid cascading effects of incorrectly entered data, among other potential problems."

Abstract: "This paper explains what is a Topic Map and describes how we have made it for the current CD-ROM.

"Topic Maps are a standard representation of navigational information that is intended to be used for interchanging such devices as indexes, thesauri, glossaries, on sets of heterogeneous documents (structured or not structured). It can be thought of as the equivalent of a neutral database scheme, that should allow its users to preserve the value added on their information repositories with semantic navigation.

"Typical users of Topic Maps include SGML users who need to maintain links accross living documents, while avoiding the overhead caused by maintenance of huge amount of data as systems evolve. Note that Topic Maps can also be used if source documents are not in SGML.

"The conceptual basis of the Topic Map architecture is based on the possibility standardized by HyTime to separate the semantic information of a link from the address of the (possibly multiple) anchors. The architecture that has been designed will be updated to take into account new standard formalism being defined for links. An XML representation is planned as well.

"The Topic Navigation Maps Project is a work done under the auspices of ISO WG8, the group responsible for SGML and related standards (Convenor: James Mason). The co-editors of this project are Martin Bryan (UK) and Michel Biezunski (France).

The article describes an architecture for handling heterogeneous information about space and time. The proposed system consists of a meta database which is handled by a metadata engine. The engine functions as the filter between the crisis management system (based on a geographical information system) and the large heterogeneous raw database. The metadata handler is a HyTime engine, based on the international standard ISO/IEC 10744. The internal query language is the HyQ [HyTime Query Language] notation from the HyTime standard.

Abstract: "Combined text and relational database support is increasingly recognized as an emerging need of industry, spanning applications requiring text fields as parts of their data (e.g., for customer support) to those augmenting primary text resources by conventional relational data (e.g., for publication control). We propose extensions to SQL that provide flexible end efficient access to structured text described by SGML. We also propose an architecture to support a text/relational database management system as a federated database environment, where component databases are accessed via "agents": SQL agents that translate standard or extended SQL queries into vendor specific dialects, and text agents that process text sub queries on full text search engines."

"Abstract: In this chapter we argue that hyperdocuments administered by digital libraries have to be structured according to standardized storage and exchange formats in order to allow for the manipulation functionality required in digital library construction, maintenance and use. We demonstrate how SGML and its extension, HyTime, can play this structuring role, and how multimedia documents structured accordingly can be stored, changed and maintained in the object-oriented database system VODAK. Using the dynamic semantic extension facilities of VODAK it is illustrated how the document structuring dynamics offered by SGML and HyTime can be accommodated in the database. In addition, we discuss how this facility can be combined with other system components to provide a relevant portion of the functionality required for digital libraries.

[Another] "Abstract: The authors have observed that both a document's internal structure as well as the relations between documents should be properly reflected when documents are stored in digital libraries. The phenomenon that the dividing line between inter-document relationships and intra-document relationships is not clean-cut has been hinted at by means of examples, such as the WWW. Describing documents according to their internal structure is advantageous with regard to the various services offered by digital libraries. Within our database application framework documents of arbitrary types can be handled. Querying documents according to their structure is an issue currently attracting researchers' attention. The queries given there can also be formulated using the VODAK Query Language VQL. Some sample queries have been formulated to sketch the expressive power of VQL. We have briefly explained how to amalgamate the system with the extension toward HyTime semantics. Besides that, the coupling with other modules for enriched functionality has been explained. The systems that have been mentioned in this context are an information-retrieval system, knowledge bases and a DFR archive. An interface to the WWW has also been discussed."

"Abstract: In this paper we discuss the structured multimedia documents that will be, or already are, to some degree the communication backbone of the so-called superhighways. It will be shown that storage and retrieval of such documents will best be handled by an integration of database and information retrieval technologies. We assume documents to be structured with the help of standards like SGML/HyTime and represented by the multitude of formats currently used for multimedia data.

Starting with an approach based on object-oriented database technology we extend both their functionality on the cost models for query evaluation on one side with multimedia features and on the other with logic-based models of information retrieval to truly combine structure and content information about the documents in question."

Abstract: The purpose of this paper is to present some of the issues involved in taking advantage of the current advances in Web new technologies, in the aim of distribute linguistic resources in an opened client/server environment. The paper is organized as follows: First, we describe our experiment within the first season of the SILFIDE (Serveur Intéractif pour la Langue Française, son Identité, sa Diffusion et son Étude) Server Project currently under development at the CRIN (Centre de Recherche en Informatique de Nancy) a laboratory associated with the CNRS (Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique) and INRIA Lorraine (Institut National de Recherche en Informatique et en Automatique). We developed a first SILFIDE Server prototype implementing the TEI guidelines, the CGI (Common Gateway Interface) and Java technologies. Next, we sketch the new directions within a second season of the SILFIDE Server Project concerning new related topics: (1) managing linguistic resources encoding in XML/TEI, (2) distributing linguistic resources over a SILFIDE network using the possibilities given by new technologies for a Web information server and (3) integrating and standardizing linguistic tools in a distributed environment."

Abstract: "XML is a syntax for storing hierarchically organized data such as directories, catalogues, user manuals, etc. It can store only textual data, but that is not a severe restriction. This article defines, in some detail, how text is stored in an XML file. It also describes how an XML file is encoded for transportation over the Internet, and upon arrival, decoded again. Under the Internet model for transport of text files, the encoding/decoding may result in a 'different' file (i.e., a different sequence of bytes), but retains exactly the same text and structure."

Session Abstract: "The DSSSL (Document Style Semantics and Specification Language) Online session will consist of a 45 minute orientation session followed by two or more hours of interactive discussion and a demonstration of Jade, a DSSSL engine. Since the basic motivation behind dsssl-o is the application of semantics to generic SGML documents served out over the Internet, some time will be spent reviewing the case for SGML on the Web and the need for semantic specification methods beyond those being currently developed for HTML before presenting the Application Profile itself.

It is assumed, but not required, that session participants will have already gained some familiarity with the DSSSL standard. The DSSSL tutorial on Sunday, November 17, is highly recommended for persons planning to attend the DSSSL Online workshop."

[Introduction]: "The extraordinary growth of the World Wide Web has been fueled by the ability it gives authors to easily and cheaply distribute electronic documents to an international audience. As Web documents have become larger and more complex, however, Web content providers have begun to experience the limitations of a medium that does not provide the extensibility, structure, and data checking needed for large-scale commercial publishing. The ability of Java applets to embed powerful data manipulation capabilities in Web clients makes even clearer the limitations of current methods for the transmittal of document data."

"To address the requirements of commercial Web publishing and enable the further expansion of Web technology into new domains of distributed document processing, the World Wide Web Consortium has developed an Extensible Markup Language (XML) for applications that require functionality beyond the current Hypertext Markup Language (HTML). This paper describes the XML effort and discusses new kinds of Java-based Web applications made possible by XML."

Abstract: "There are three major components to an SGML Document - the SGML Declaration, Prolog and Document Instance. An understanding of their roles, their inter-dependencies, and their arrangement within a practical working environment is essential for all users of SGML based systems. As well as describing the purpose and content of each major component of an SGML Document, this paper explains how they are managed by an entity manager, and how they integrate with a parser."

Abstract: "Lark is a non-validating XML processor implemented in the Java language; it attempts to achieve good trade-offs among compactness, completeness, and performance. This report gives an overview of the motivations for, facilities offered by, and usage of, the Lark processor. This article applies to version 0.92 of Lark, in use in early September 1997."

Abstract: "This document specifies a simple set of constructs that may be inserted into XML documents to describe links between objects and to support addressing into the internal structures of XML documents. It is a goal to use the power of XML to create a structure that can describe the simple unidirectional hyperlinks of today's HTML as well as more sophisticated multi-ended, typed, self-describing links."

Abstract: "Extensible Markup Language (XML) is an extremely simple dialect of SGML which is completely described in this document. The goal is to enable generic SGML to be served, received, and processed on the Web in the way that is now possible with HTML. XML has been designed for ease of implementation and for interoperability with both SGML and HTML."

Abstract: "Extensible Markup Language (XML for short) is being designed under the auspices of the World Wide Web Consortium; the larger goal of this effort is 'to enable future Web user agents to receive and process generic SGML in the way that they are now able to receive and process HTML. As in the case of HTML, the implementation of SGML on the Web will require attention not just to structure and content (the domain of SGML per se) but also to link semantics and display semantics.' [from the W3C 'Activity' Page] As a subgoal, we are creating an SGML application profile, XML, that is designed to provide many of the benefits of SGML in a lightweight, easy-to-use, easy-to-implement dialect that omits many of the difficult or problematic features of the full standard. This paper is an interim report on the progress of the work on creating an XML specification. This work is proceeding rapidly and we anticipate a draft of the specification being available at the time of SGML '96."

Abstract: SGML achieves a certain degree of context-dependent document processing through attributes and linking. These mechanisms are insufficient in several respects. To address these shortcomings we propose augmenting SGML's !LINK and !ATTLIST constructs with two new mechanisms, coordination and (rule-based) attribution. These mechanisms can be used to specify the result of context-dependent processing in a uniform fashion while considerably increasing SGML's expressive power. We illustrate this enhanced power by sketching a specification of (the result of) document layout that can be encoded in SGML augmented with coordination and attribution.

Abstract: "A new data modeling approach to producing SGML documents has been developed. Documents are assembled from content models, or information units, which are created and edited using common tools. These information units are collections of SGML elements, raw text, and processes, but less than whole documents. For this work, when an assembly of these objects or information units is made, then the DTD and FOSI are created for use with the output document. If the information objects conform to a given DTD (say the ATM 2100), then the assembled document will also conform. We start by describing some of the real issues that SGML systems face, then some of the approaches others have taken. Finally we detail our solution and the research that is ongoing.

"Abstract: There is an increasing interest in both structured documents and in the use of objectbases for storing structured multimedia documents and hypertext. This paper describes a simple objectbase and object-oriented toolkit designed primarily to support structured ODA documents, and evaluates the strengths and weaknesses of an object-oriented approach towards toolkits for structured multimedia documents and hypertext."

Abstract: "Many documents exist in both paper and electronic forms. Paper has many well known advantages, but electronic texts often contain useful information that is not easily accessible from printed paper versions. SGML texts, in particular, are rich sources of additional information. The Active Alice project shows how a reader can use a paper document to access information from its corresponding electronic version without having to manipulate the electronic version via a separate computer interface. The project makes use of a DigitalDesk. This is an ordinary desk augmented with a video camera and computer driven projector. The camera captures images of the pages on the desk and detects simple user actions such as pointing to specific words on a page. The images are used to associate the pages with their SGML counterparts. Information from the SGML versions can then be conveyed directly to the reader via information projected onto the page or onto other areas of the desk. The project takes its name from the example text used-a version of Alice's Adventures in Wonderland."