----- Original Message ----- Sent: January 22, 2004 8:47 AM Subject: [wdvltalk] RE: [OT] Is M$ trying to pirate XML?
> I remember that an older version of WordPerfect had SGML. Plus, they had > the first wordprocessing software that did HTML. Please correct me if I'm > wrong but isn't XML just a subset of SGML? A decaf version (XML) versus > expresso (SGML)? > > I hope the Patent Office says no. As they're just using something that > already exists. It's been described as a "subset" by some, as it is based on it in some ways but requires different tools to implement. XML is like a cross between SGML and HTML. It has the flexibility developers need to define types of content and how they are related while being less complex than full-blown SGML. Since for all practical purposes it encompasses HTML, existing Web content can remain as it currently stands. Because it has most of the power of SGML, a single tagged text document could conceivably drive not only display of Web sites, but production of paper documents. Here's an old conversation about subset: http://lists.w3.org/Archives/Public/w3c-sgml-wg/1996Nov/0058.html I just happen to be redoing a site for someone that was involved with this as far back as '92, http://markgroen.com/sagebrush/archives/index.htm but the history actually starts about 1986 and earlier if you include it's development: http://www.sgmlsource.com/history/roots.htm I haven't read the patent application myself, but suspect they are actually just trying to patent a certain process they are doing with their Word/Office documents, actually using xml or sgml is like using javascript in that anyone can write code for it. On the other hand, we are talking about M$ here eh, so I could be completely wrong. hth! cheers, Mark MG Web Services Web Site Hosting and Development www.markgroen.com [EMAIL PROTECTED] 604-780-6917 Bowen Island, Canada ____ • The WDVL Discussion List from WDVL.COM • ____ To Join wdvltalk, Send An Email To: mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] Send Your Posts To: [EMAIL PROTECTED] To set a personal password send an email to [EMAIL PROTECTED] with the words: "set WDVLTALK pw=yourpassword" in the body of the email. To change subscription settings to the wdvltalk digest version: http://wdvl.internet.com/WDVL/Forum/#sub ________________ http://www.wdvl.com _______________________ You are currently subscribed to wdvltalk as: [EMAIL PROTECTED] To unsubscribe send a blank email to [EMAIL PROTECTED] To unsubscribe via postal mail, please contact us at: Jupitermedia Corp. Attn: Discussion List Management 475 Park Avenue South New York, NY 10016 Please include the email address which you have been contacted with.
