The Extensible Markup Language (XML) is a simple, flexible text format derived from SGML (ISO 8879). The W3C created, developed and continues to maintain the XML specification. The W3C is also the primary center for developing other cross-industry specifications that are based on XML. Some of these are done within the XML Activity, such as XML Query and XML Schema, and some are being done in other W3C areas. The XML Activity tries to keep a balance between maintaining stability and backwards compatibility, making improvements that help to encourage interoperability, and bringing new communities into the world of XML.
Low W3C staff resources in the XML Activity meant that much work was done without technical staff involvement. The Activity is still accomplishing a lot with relatively few staff (1.25 FTE).
The Actvity was rechartered overall until January 2013. Some Working Groups within the XML Activity are expected to finish their current work and close sooner.
Although no new areas of work were started, the XSL Working Group was split into two separate Working Groups: The XSLT WOrking Group is a continuation of the existing group, and will focus on the hugely successful XSLT transformation language. The new XML Print and Page Layout Working Group was formed to continue the work of XSL-FO for XML formatting, previously a part of the XSL Working Group.
The XML Core Working Group has published Associating Style Sheets with XML Documents 1.0 (Second Edition) as a W3C Recommendation, clarifying the 1.0 version somewhat. .
The XML Core Working Group has also worked with ISO on Associating Schemas with XML documents, an XML processing instruction to link from XML documents to schemas. This document has advanced within ISO, but is expected to remain a Note at W3C.
The XML Query Working Group and the XSL Working Group have jointly published second editions of XPath 2.0, XQuery 1.0, XQueryX 1.0, and related specifications; these incorporate errata, and the test suite has been updated. They have also published drafts of the next version of XPath and XQuery, to be numbered 3.0.
The two Working Groups have also published XQuery and XPath Full Text 1.0 as a W3C Recommendation: the first standard syntax for text retrieval over XML documents.
The XML Query Working Group also published XQuery Update Facility 1.0 as a W3C Recommendation; this gives a standard declarative way to express changes to one or more XML documents.
The XSL-FO subgroup of the XSL Working Group has worked on XSLT 2.0, and has published an updated version of Design Notes for Extensible Stylesheet Language (XSL) 2.0; feedback is strongly encouraged. Note that, going forward, this work will be taken over by the newly-formed XML Print and Page Layout Working Group.
The XML Schema Working Group has been working on a test suite and on processing Last Call comments on XSD 1.1 and expects to move forward during this review period.
The XML Processing Model Working Group published a Last Call Working Draft of XML processor profiles.
The Efficient XML Interchange Working Group published the Efficient XML Interchange Format 1.0 as a W3C Recommendation: this is a highly efficient schema-aware XML-specific compression technology that can can be unpacked directly into DOM, XDM or other representations without re-parsing.
The Efficient XML Interchange format is pushing XML into new areas, especially on mobile and embedded platforms, and will create new opportunities. XQuery and XSLT 2 are slowly gaining adoption, and XML Schema 1.1 is likely to become a Recommendation this year.
| Group | Chair | Team Contact | Charter |
|---|---|---|---|
| Efficient XML Interchange Working Group (participants) | Takuki Kamiya, Michael Cokus | Carine Bournez | Chartered until 30 June 2012 |
| XML Coordination Group (participants) | Michael Sperberg-McQueen | Liam Quin | Chartered until 30 January 2013 |
| XML Core Working Group (participants) | Paul Grosso, Norman Walsh | Liam Quin | Chartered until 31 January 2013 |
| XML Processing Model Working Group (participants) | Norman Walsh | Liam Quin | Chartered until 31 January 2012 |
| XML Query Working Group (participants) | Jim Melton | Liam Quin, Carine Bournez | Chartered until 31 January 2013 |
| XML Schema Working Group (participants) | David Ezell | Liam Quin | Chartered until 31 January 2013 |
| XSLT Working Group (participants) | Sharon Adler | Liam Quin, Carine Bournez | Chartered until 31 January 2013 |
| XML Print and Page Layout Working Group (participants) | Liam Quin | Liam Quin | Chartered until 31 January 2013 |
This Activity Statement was prepared for the Bilbao AC Meeting (Members only) per section 5 of the W3C Process Document. Generated from group data.
Liam R. E. Quin, XML Activity Lead
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