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Comment on XFDL Submission

W3C is pleased to receive the XFDL submission from UWI (Unisoft Wares Incorporated).

The submission describes an XML syntax for the Extensible Forms Description Language (XFDL) to represent complex forms such as those found in business and government.

XFDL includes support for high precision layout, supporting documentation, integrated computations and input validation, multiple overlapping digital signatures, and legally binding auditable transaction records.

XFDL specification mixes in one single markup format: content, layout, actions and encryption.

The submission is related to the following activities of W3C:

• Extensible Markup Language (XML) :
  XML provides a syntax to design applications with particular functions. XFDL is an application of XML, focussing on the design of a language for representating forms on the Web.
• HyperText Markup Language (HTML) :
  HTML already provides a fixed repertoire of named tags for forms. Work on the next generation of HTML will formalize HTML as a suite of XML tag sets with a clean migration path from HTML 4.0. Some of the expected benefits include: reduced authoring costs, an improved match to database & workflow applications, a modular solution to the increasingly disparate capabilities of browsers, and the ability to cleanly integrate HTML with other XML applications. The goals of XFDL directly relate to the work planned for the next generation of HTML forms.
• Style Language (CSS/XSL) :
  Cascading Style Sheets (CSS) offers precise control over the presentation of forms on the Web. The Extensible Style Sheets Language (XSL) which will have document manipulation capabilities beyond CSS. XFDL defines representation and layout in the markup. It overlaps the CSS and XSL specifications.
• Document Object Model (DOM) :
  DOM offers a consistent programming interface for manipulating a document with programming languages such as Java and ECMAScript. XFDL defines its own programming interface and programming language in the markup. It overlaps the DOM specification.
• Electronic Commerce Interest Group :
  The E.Commerce Interest Group is a forum designed to allow the members to share information with the Consortium staff and other members about work underway in related areas. XFDL is clearly related to Electronic Commerce.
• Digital Signature (DSig) :
  While initial goals of DSig were focussed on signing metadata, future work on DSig 2.0 will be to produce a specification for digitally signing XML documents. XFDL defines its own digital signature in the markup. It may overlap the future work on DSig 2.0.

XFDL provides full non-repudiation and auditability by storing the form template, data, and internal logic in a single filethat can be digitally signed. XFDL also offers built-in logic, calculations, type checking, enclosures, and online help.

W3C policy is to separate content and presentation. XFDL combines content, layout, actions and digital signature.
Obviously, on many topics the XFDL submission relates to a large number of W3C activities.

Next Steps :

XFDL should be reviewed by the HTML working group as a starting point for consideration of requirements for the next generation of HTML forms.

XFDL will be announced within the Electronic Commerce Interest Group for comments.

A "Call for Participation" for the creation of DSig 2.0 working group is in progress. This project is currently awaiting staffing. At such time as a working group is formed, XFDL will be presented to it for their consideration (like the Signed Document Markup Language (SDML)).

Future work on DOM and XML should also consider these specific form needs in the technologies being built.