SGML UK Meeting Announcement
SGML, XML, and Databases


Meeting Announcement

SGML UK, a Subsidiary Chapter of the International SGML Users'
Group, are pleased to announce an all-day open meeting on:

SGML, XML AND DATABASES

to be held jointly with the British Computer Society's Electronic and
Multimedia Publishing Specialist Group at:

The Brunei Gallery Lecture Theatre
School of Oriental and African Studies (SOAS), Russell Square, London

on Tuesday 20th October 1998 from 10.00am to 5.00pm

Admission will be by registration in advance only. Meeting registration fees
are GBP 25.00 for SGML UK and BCS EMPSG Members, GBP 50.00 for
Non-Members, including lunch and refreshments.

From one perspective, SGML can be regarded quite simply as a standard
and logically structured format for electronic documents. As such
there has always been a role for database technology in the management
and delivery of SGML documents, just as with any other form of
electronic documents.  Databases can provide secure, controlled and
indexed access to SGML documents as well as helping the management
specific features of SGML such as hyperlink and document
configuration.

However, there is another dimension to SGML as a data representation
which has not always been exploited fully by SGML users. The arrival
of XML, with the host of vertical applications it has spawned, has
focussed attention once more on SGML/XML as the mechanism for
creating, managing and exchanging structured information, rather than
merely a representation for structured documents. From this
perspective, the boundaries between SGML/XML and database
representations of information become blurred and there is a
requirement for software applications which access and manipulate
SGML/XML information to span those boundaries seamlessly. Ideally, the
users of such applications should be able to gain the benefits derived
from both representations, without being aware of the underlying data
format.

At this meeting we will be exploring the close relationship between
SGML/XML and database technology, both for information production and
for information delivery to end-users. We will look at the
'traditional' marriage of SGML and database technology for document
management as well as the newer applications that are emerging as XML
assumes its position as a key component of distributed information
systems.

Presentations from leading industry experts will cover strategies for
systems architecture and design, the background to database and Web
technology as applied to SGML/XML and case studies from several
different application areas.

The meeting programme is expected to include:

1. Overview of SGML/XML and Databases
     Databases in the information production lifecycle
     Databases for information delivery
     Databases for information discovery
     Overview of technology
     Overview of product categories

2. Using Databases in the SGML/XML production lifecycle
     Advantages of using a database in the production lifecycle
     Features of SGML/XML databases
     What type of database technology to use (relational, OO, Hybrid)
     The role of workflow

3. Information delivery using SGML, XML and databases
     Configuring information from databases
     Indexing and searching
     Issues for information delivery: graphics, cross references, etc
     Linking to external databases from SGML/XML documents

4. XML and database technology for information access on the Web
     The potential for combining XML and databases for web delivery
     Indexing, searching, and metadata
     XML initiatives: DOM, XML Data, etc
     XML and distributed object technology (CORBA, DCOM, etc)

5. Case Study from Technical Publications Scenario
     Managing the production of technical publications
     High tech Manufacturing Industry (e.g. Automotive, Aerospace,...)

6. Leveraging the investment in SGML/XML through database management systems
     Managing links and cross references
     Managing language variants
     Document configuration

7. Case Study from Commercial Publishing
     Include management of production lifecycle
     Publishing on CD and over the Web

A Technology Showcase for database tools that support SGML or XML
will be available for viewing during the buffet lunch.

To register for the meeting, please contact Kirsten Wheatley
- address details below.  A registration form will
shortly be available on the SGML UK web site, for which the home page
is http://www.sgml.org.uk.

For more detailed information on the programme please contact:

John Chelsom
CSW Informatics Ltd
Oxford Centre For Innovation, Mill Street, Oxford, OX2 0JX, UK.
Tel: +44/0 1865 794 789      Fax: +44/0 1865 205 008
Email: john@csw.co.uk

Potential exhibitors at the Technology Showcase should contact:

Kirsten Wheatley
Database Publishing Systems Ltd
608 Delta Business Park, Great Western Way, Swindon SN5 7XF
Tel: +44/0 1793 512 515     Fax: +44/0 1793 512 516
Email: kirsten.wheatley@dpsl.co.uk

Francis Cave
Principal Consultant, Publishing & New Media
Pira International
Randalls Road, Leatherhead, Surrey KT22 7RU, UK
Tel: +44-1372-802213
FAX: +44-1372-802238
Email: cave@pira.co.uk
WWW: http://newmedia.pira.co.uk
Date:     Sun, 30 Aug 1998 21:16:05 +0100
From:     Peter Flynn <pflynn@IMBOLC.UCC.IE>
Subject:  SGML UK Meeting Announcement
From      francisc@www.pira.co.uk  Fri Aug 28 16:50:53 1998