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. One additional person was hired part-time at 10hours per week, primarily to help with the XML Schema Working Group. The Activity is still accomplishing a lot with relatively few staff (1.75 FTE).
No new Working Groups were created in this activity.
The XML Core Working Group has published XML Linking Language (XLink) Version 1.1 as a W3C Recommendation, aligning with the Legacy extended IRIs for XML resource identification (LEIRI) specification and also making the xlink:role attribute optional, simplifying usage and aligning with current practice.
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. There is also been active work on Associating Style Sheets with XML documents 1.0 (Second Edition), expected to be an Edited Recommendation shortly.
The XML Query Working Group and the XSL Working Group have worked jointly on second editions of XPath 2.0, XQuery 1.0, XSLT 2.0, XQueryX 1.0, and related specifications; these incorporate errata, and the test suiet has been updated. Some technical issues arose during the review period and were addressed; the Working Groups are currently awaiting updated test results from impelemntors to ensure that the changes and clarifications help interoperability.
The two Working Groups have also republished XQuery and XPath Full Text 1.0, incorporating fixes to the grammar that were uncovered by interoperability testing. They also agreed to renumber the new versions of all of the various specifications to 3.0, rather than the present mixture of 1.1 and 2.1, to reduce confusion about why XQuery 1.1 extended XPath 2.1 using the XML and XPath Data Model 1.1, and so forth.
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.
The XSL Working Group also published Requirements and Use Cases for XSLT 2.1 and a first public Working Draft for XSL Transformations (XSLT) Version 2.1; these will be renumbered 3.0 for future publications.
The XML Query Working Group also publisheda Working draft of XQuery Scripting Extension 1.0.
The XML Schema Working Group has taken XSD (Schema) back to Last Call as a result of comments received, and is processing issues and working on the test suite, and expects to move forward during this review period.
The XML Processing Model Working Group published XProc: An XML Pipeline Language as a W3C Recommendation, and have been working on XML processor profiles.
The Efficient XML Interchange Working Group has been working on issues arising from the Candidate Recommendation of Efficient XML Interchange Format and from interoperability testing.
The Efficient XML Interchange format is likely to push 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 31 January 2011 |
| XML Coordination Group (participants) | Michael Sperberg-McQueen | Liam Quin | Chartered until 31 January 2011 |
| XML Core Working Group (participants) | Paul Grosso, Norman Walsh | Liam Quin | Chartered until 31 January 2011 |
| XML Plenary Interest Group | Michael Sperberg-McQueen | Liam Quin | Chartered until 31 January 2011 |
| XML Processing Model Working Group (participants) | Norman Walsh | Liam Quin | Chartered until 31 January 2011 |
| XML Query Working Group (participants) | Jim Melton | Liam Quin, Carine Bournez | Chartered until 31 January 2011 |
| XML Schema Interest Group | Michael Sperberg-McQueen | Henry S. Thompson | Chartered until 31 January 2011 |
| XML Schema Working Group (participants) | David Ezell | Liam Quin | Chartered until 31 January 2011 |
| XSL Working Group (participants) | Sharon Adler | Liam Quin, Carine Bournez | Chartered until 31 January 2011 |
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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