"The Python XML-SIG has developed a new XML document type for use as an Internet bookmark interchange format. The document type definition and documentation are available at http://www.python.org/topics/xml/xbel/. XBEL supports the bookmarking capabilities of all major browsers. Demonstration conversion software is available to support Netscape Navigator, Microsoft Internet Explorer, and Opera. [from the announcement]
[April 13, 1999] 'The current release of the Grail Internet browser from CNRI supports XBEL as a native bookmarks format.'
"The original intent was to create an interesting, fun project which was both useful and would demonstrate the Python XML processing software which was being developed at the time. Mark Hammond contributed the original idea, and other members of the SIG chimed in to add support for their favorite browser features. After debate which ranged far afield from the original idea, compromises were reached which allow XBEL to be a useful language for describing bookmark data for a range of browsers, including the major browsers and a number of less widely used browsers. At this time, the formal document type definition (DTD) was finalized and documentation was written. These are available online." [1998-11-03]
"The public text for XBEL will be made available through a SOCAT catalog available at: http://www.python.org/topics/xml/dtds/catalog. This catalog may be used by including a DELEGATE entry in a catalog already used by XML processing software. The DELEGATE entry should be: DELEGATE "+//IDN python.org" "http://www.python.org/topics/xml/dtds/catalog". The XBEL DTD documented in this report has the Formal Public Identifier: +//IDN python.org//DTD XML Bookmark Exchange Language 1.0//EN//XML. Valid instances of this document type may use the following document type declaration: <!DOCTYPE xbel PUBLIC "+//IDN python.org//DTD XML Bookmark Exchange Language 1.0//EN//XML" "http://www.python.org/topics/xml/dtds/xbel-1.0.dtd">
Links:
[October 28, 1998] Announcement from Fred L. Drake
XBEL DTD Version 1.0. [local archive copy]
The XML Bookmark Exchange Language - Documentation in HTML Format.
Documentation in Postscript Release 1.0, October 20, 1998. [local archive copy]
