Kim Lester (kim@dfusion.com.au)
Wed, 12 Jan 2000 03:24:27 +0000
I think one of the ways to make progress in this group
is for us to make well defined proposals on particular
issues from time to time and wait for the flames (:-))
instead of being overly cautious and not getting anywhere.
That way we should accumulate a set of agreements (or
exclusions) more rapidly.
We'll accumulate suggestions/opinions into
proposals and then issue them each as a proposal for
discussion/argument.
If enough of us agree then I'll shove them info a draft
standard doc which I'll send out for review once it has
some substance.
Anyone can make a proposal but let's take it gently
as we need to discuss each topic well.
Some proposals will be guidelines to follow
some will be technical. We can sort the details
out later (eg "Define a single format" is a guideline/goal
whilst "The format shall be XXXX" is a technical decision
that meets the goal"
Proposals should be short and sweet, they don't have to
be in legalistic, comments/draft reviews should knock
out any ambiguities.
Having said that (because it justifies my next comments :-) )
===================
Proposals:
Terms (Note these are just working names for convenience)
-----
Open Document Format - A documentation format defined by this group
Open Document Environment - the entity comprising
- the ODF
- all documents in the ODF format
- all documents that may be automatically converted
into compliant ODF.
- all software to convert to/from the ODF,
- ODF compatible doc. browser softare
- ODF hardcopy guidelines
- all ODF compliant indexing/categorisation software
- any network protocols required to access remote ODEs
- document authoring guidelines
[Note we need to vote/evolve the above definitions as well]
ODF Specifications (in no particular order)
------------------
1) Define a _single_ document format: The Open Document Format (ODF)
2) The ODF will be a valid doucumentation "source" format
(ie not just an output format like postscript)
3) The ODF shall define doument formatting/structure not appearance
4) The ODF will be the primary repository format.
5) The ODF will be the distribution format.
6) All documents in the ODE must be either
a) native ODF
b) be provided with tools to convert them to compliant ODF
[ NOTE: 6b permits use of existing formats for source material ]
ODE Specifications
------------------
7) ODE shall define a minimum set of features for a Compliant
Document Browser
8) ODE Ccmpliant Document Browser specification shall not
exclude the use of text based technology.
9) ODE shall define a minimum set of search/indexing criterial
for a compliant ODE.
10) ODE shall include authoring/editing requirements
11) ODE authoring/editing requirements will have two categories
a) mandatory rules
b) guidelines
[ NOTE: Before anyone gets worked up, the mandatory set has not been
defined
and may be empty. Regardless, all ODF docs must conform to some
technical rules, it also makes sense that content/changes etc
be subject to some broad rules to avoid potential chaos ]
** These specs are not the only ones but they are a good place
** to start and pretty non-controversial
===================
Please feel free to make suggestions about anything
potentially wrong with these proposals.
Once we get the above specs sorted out we need to:
develop our indexing/categorisation requirements
the best ODF to meet our needs
regards
Kim
This archive was generated by hypermail 2.0b3 on Tue Jan 11 2000 - 22:27:23 EST