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Federal Information Processing Standards Publications (FIPS PUBS) are issued by the National Institute of Standards and Technology after approval by the Secretary of Commerce pursuant to Section 111(d) of the Federal Property and Administrative Services Act of 1949, as amended by the Computer Security Act of 1987, Public Law 100-235.2

2. Category of Standard. Software Standard, Graphics.

3. Explanation. This publication is a revision of FIPS PUB 128-1. This revision supersedes FIPS PUB 128-1 in its entirety and modifies the standard by:

(1) adopting the Computer Graphics Metafile standard designated, ANSI/ISO 8632.1-4:1992[1994], and CGM Amendment 1: Rules for Profiles, ISO 8632:1992/Amd. 1:1994;

(2) requiring the use of conforming profiles. Conformance of metafiles (i.e., data files) and implementations (i.e., generators and interpreters) is defined in terms of conformance to profiles; and

(3) adopting several profiles, one of which is required for implementation of this FIPS PUB.

(1) Model Profile as contained in CGM Amendment 1;

(2) Air Transport Association (ATA) Specification 2100, Graphics Exchange for CGM;

(3) Continuous Acquisition and Life-Cycle Support (CALS), MIL-D-28003A.

• - vector graphics (e.g., polylines, ellipses, NURBS);
• - raster graphics (e.g., tile array); and
• - text.

CGM Amendment 1 provides the rules for defining profiles of CGM and conformance requirements for profiles, metafiles, and implementations. Since a proliferation of CGM profiles is not desirable, only those profiles needed for Federal agency use have been added to the FIPS CGM. The exact specification is in Section 10 of this standard.

4. Approving Authority. Secretary of Commerce.

5. Maintenance Agency. Department of Commerce, National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST), Computer Systems Laboratory (CSL).

6. Cross Index.
a. American National Standard/International Organization for Standardization (ANSI/ISO) Computer Graphics Metafile (CGM), ANSI/ISO 8632.1-4:1992[1994] (Part 1: Functional Specifications; Part 2: Character Encoding; Part 3: Binary Encoding; Part 4: Clear Text Encoding).
b. International Organization for Standardization (ISO) Computer Graphics Metafile (CGM), ISO 8632:1992/Amd. 1:1994.
c. Air Transport Association Specification 2100, Digital Data Standards for Aircraft Support, Graphics Exchange v2.1, October 1994.
d. Military Specification, Digital Representation of Illustration Data: CGM Application Profile (AP), MIL-D-28003A, November 15, 1991.

7. Related Documents. Related ISO documents are listed in the reference section of the CGM standard, ANSI/ISO 8632.1- 4:1992[1994].
a. Federal Information Processing Standards Publication (FIPS PUB) 29-3, Interpretation Procedures for FIPS Software.
b. Federal Information Processing Standards Publication (FIPS PUB) 120-1, Graphical Kernel System (GKS). c. Federal Information Resources Management Regulations 201-20.303, Standards, and subpart 201-39.1002, Federal Standards.
d. NISTIR 5475, Validated Products List, J. Kailey and P. Himes, editors, republished quarterly.
e. NISTIR 5372, CGM: Procedures for NIST CGM Validation Test Service, L. Rosenthal and J. Schneider, February 1994.
f. ISO 10641-1992, Conformance Testing of Implementations of Graphics Standards.
8. Objectives. The primary objectives of this standard are:

• - To reduce the overall life-cycle cost for digital systems by establishing a common exchange format for storing, transferring, and archiving graphical data across organizational boundaries and independent from any particular system.

• - To promote the exchange of graphical information enabling applications to share data and reduce time spent recomputing in efforts to regenerate pictorial information.

• - To specify application profiles which provide functional subsets of the CGM standard and maximize the probability of interchange between systems implementing the profile.

• - To promote the use and development of conforming profiles and the harmonization of conformance testing efforts for metafiles, generators, and interpreters.

• - Graphical information (e.g. illustrations, clip art) will be acquired for government use and incorporated into computer applications or documents.

• - Computer applications, programs, systems, or devices will be acquired and used to create, modify, display, or render graphical information.

• - Graphical information created by an application will be reviewed, modified, or incorporated into another application on the same or different computer systems.

• - Graphical information will be used and maintained by other than the original designer.

• - Graphical information will be used by multiple people, groups, or organizations within the Government or private sector.

• - Model Profile: The Model Profile is appropriate for basic scientific and technical graphics (e.g., computer-aided design, mapping, earth sciences, cartography) and presentation, visualization, and publishing applications (graphics arts, high end desk top publishing). This is a general purpose profile which supports all three CGM encodings at the CGM version 3 functionality level. For FIPS CGM, if no profile is specified, the Model Profile will be assumed by default.

• - ATA Specification 2100: The ATA profile is appropriate for presentation, visualization, and publishing applications (e.g., graphical arts, imaging, electronic review of documents, hypermedia, and multimedia documents). Although similar to the Model Profile, the ATA profile allows for symbol libraries and the use of intelligent graphics (i.e., graphics which contain application-specific information along with the information necessary to render a picture). This profile, developed by the Air Transport Association, supports the binary and clear text encodings at the CGM version 3 functionality level. Except for metafiles containing symbols or raster images, the ATA profile limits the number of pictures per metafiles to one.

• - MIL-D-28003A: The CALS profile is appropriate for basic scientific and technical graphics, presentation and publishing applications (e.g., business presentation graphics, desktop publishing). In addition, this profile is appropriate for a basic level of general-purpose graphical interchange. This profile, developed by CALS, supports only the binary encoding and is limited (by this FIPS CGM) to the CGM version 1 functionality level.

10. Specifications. ANSI/ISO 8632.1-4:1992[1994], Computer Graphics Metafile, defines the scope of the specifications, the syntax, and semantics of the CGM elements. The ANSI/ISO 8632 consists of four parts: (Part 1: Functional Specifications; Part 2: Character and Coding; Part 3: Binding and Coding; Part 4: Clear Text Encoding). ISO 8632:1994/Amd. 1 defines the rules for profiles, conformance, and the Model profile, an instance of a CGM profile. In addition, one of the following profiles shall be used when implementing FIPS CGM: the Model Profile as specified in ISO 8632:1992/Amd. 1:1994, the ATA Specification 2100 Graphics Exchange for CGM, or the Military Specification MIL-D-28003A. All implementations claiming conformance to this FIPS CGM must adhere to the specific requirements defined in the "Conformance" clause of ISO 8632:1992/Amd. 1:1994 and the application profile.

11. Implementation. The implementation of this standard involves four areas of consideration: effective date, acquisition, interpretation, and validation.

11.1 Effective Date. This publication is effective November 1, 1996. A transition period of six (6) months, beginning on the effective date, allows industry to produce CGM implementations and CGM files conforming to this standard. Agencies are encouraged to use this standard for solicitation proposals during the transition period. This standard is mandatory for use in all solicitation proposals for CGM files and implementations (i.e., products or software containing CGM generators and/or interpreters) acquired six (6) months after the effective date.

11.2 Acquisition of CGM Files and Implementations. The use of one of the profiles specified in Section 9.3 is required for conformance to CGM. Agencies should specify a profile in all acquisitions.
Conformance to this standard shall be considered whether CGM files or implementations are developed internally, acquired as part of a system procurement, acquired by separate procurement, used under a leasing agreement, or specified for use in contracts for programming services. Recommended terminology for procurement of FIPS CGM is contained in the U.S. General Services Administration publication Federal ADP and Telecommunications Standards Index, Chapter 5, Part 1.

11.3 Interpretation of FIPS CGM. Resolution of questions regarding this standard will be provided by NIST. Procedures for interpretations are specified in FIPS PUB 29-3. Questions concerning the content and specifications should be addressed to:
Director
Computer Systems Laboratory
ATTN: CGM Interpretation
Building 820, Room 562
National Institute of Standards and Technology
Gaithersburg, MD 20899

11.4 Validation of CGM Files and Implementations. CGM files and implementations of FIPS CGM shall be validated in accordance with the NIST Computer Systems Laboratory (CSL) validation procedures for FIPS CGM, NISTIR 5372, Procedures for the NIST CGM Validation Test Service. Recommended procurement terminology for validation of FIPS CGM is contained in the U.S. General Services Administration publication Federal ADP and Telecommunications Standards Index, Chapter 5, Part 2. This GSA publication provides terminology for three validation options: Delayed Validation, Prior Validation Testing, and Prior Validation. The agency shall select the appropriate validation option and shall specify appropriate time frames for validation and correction of nonconformities. The agency is advised to refer to the NIST publication Validated Products List for information about the validation status of CGM products. This information may be used to specify validation time frames that are not unduly restrictive of competition.

Metafiles and implementations shall be evaluated in terms of conformance to a particular profile of CGM, using the NIST CGM Test Service. If no profile is specified, the Model Profile will be used. The goal of the NIST CGM Test Service, is to assist users and vendors in determining compliance to FIPS PUB 128-2. The results of validation testing by the NIST CGM Validation Test Service are published on a quarterly basis in the Validated Products List, available from the National Technical Information Service (NTIS).

Current information about the NIST CGM Validation Test Service and validation procedures for FIPS CGM is available from:
National Institute of Standards and Technology
Computer Systems Laboratory
Conformance Testing Group, CGM Test Service
Building 820, Room 562
Gaithersburg, MD 20899
(301) 975-3283

12. Waivers.
Under certain exceptional circumstances, the heads of Federal departments and agencies may approve waivers to Federal Information Processing Standards (FIPS). The head of such agency may redelegate such authority only to a senior official designated pursuant to section 3506(b) of Title 44, U.S. Code. Waivers shall be granted only when:
a. Compliance with a standard would adversely affect the accomplishment of the mission of an operator of a Federal computer system, or
b. Cause a major adverse financial impact on the operator which is not offset by Governmentwide savings.

Agency heads may act upon a written waiver request containing the information detailed above. Agency heads may also act without a written waiver request when they determine that conditions for meeting the standard cannot be met. Agency heads may approve waivers only by a written decision which explains the basis on which the agency head made the required finding(s). A copy of each such decision, with procurement sensitive or classified portions clearly identified, shall be sent to: National Institute of Standards and Technology; ATTN: FIPS Waiver Decisions, Building 820, Room 509; Gaithersburg, MD 20899.

In addition, notice of each waiver granted and each delegation of authority to approve waivers shall be sent promptly to the Committee on Government Operations of the House of Representatives and the Committee on Governmental Affairs of the Senate and shall be published promptly in the Federal Register.

When the determination on a waiver applies to the procurement of equipment and/or services, a notice of the waiver determination must be published in the Commerce Business Daily as a part of the notice of solicitation for offers of an acquisition or, if the waiver determination is made after that notice is published, by amendment to such notice.

A copy of the waiver, any supporting documents, the document approving the waiver and any supporting and accompanying documents, with such deletions as the agency is authorized and decides to make under 5 U.S.C. Sec. 552(b), shall be part of the procurement documentation and retained by the agency.

13. Where to Obtain Copies. Copies of this publication are for sale by the National Technical Information Service, U.S. Department of Commerce, Springfield, VA 22161. (Sale of the included specifications document is by arrangement with the American National Standards Institute.) When ordering, refer to Federal Information Processing Standards Publication 128-2 (FIPSPUB128-2), and title. Payment may be made by check, money order, or NTIS deposit account.