WebCGM 2.0 (original) (raw)

Abstract

Computer Graphics Metafile (CGM) is an ISO standard, defined by ISO/IEC 8632:1999, for the interchange of 2D vector and mixed vector/raster graphics. WebCGM is a profile of CGM, which adds Web linking and is optimized for Web applications in technical illustration, electronic documentation, geophysical data visualization, and similar fields. First published (1.0) in 1999 and followed by a second (errata) release in 2001, WebCGM unifies potentially diverse approaches to CGM utilization in Web document applications. It therefore represents a significant interoperability agreement amongst major users and implementers of the ISO CGM standard.

WebCGM 2.0 adds a DOM (API) specification for programmatic access to WebCGM objects, and a specification of an XML Companion File (XCF) architecture, for externalization of non-graphical metadata. WebCGM 2.0, in addition, builds upon and extends the graphical and intelligent content of WebCGM 1.0, delivering functionality that was forecast for WebCGM 1.0, but was postponed in order to get the standard and its implementations to users expeditiously.

The design criteria for WebCGM aim at a balance between graphical expressive power on the one hand, and simplicity and implementability on the other. A small but powerful set of standardized metadata elements supports the functionalities of hyperlinking and document navigation, picture structuring and layering, and enabling search and query of WebCGM picture content.

Status of this Document

This section describes the status of this document at the time of its publication. Other documents may supersede this document. A list of current W3C publications and the latest revision of this technical report can be found in the W3C technical reports indexat http://www.w3.org/TR/.

This is the Recommendationof the WebCGM 2.0. This document is a product of the WebCGM Working Group as part of the Graphics Activity.

This specification was produced jointly by OASIS and W3C and published on 30 January 2007 by both organizations. It is published simultaneously as anOASIS Standard and a W3CRecommendation. The two documents have exactly identical content except for cover page and formatting differences as appropriate to the two organizations.

With a few exceptions such as feature deprecations, WebCGM 1.0functionality is a subset of WebCGM 2.0 functionality. While the WebCGM 1.0 Recommendation published on 17 December 2001 remains a valid specification, primarily to support existing data and applications, use of WebCGM 2.0 viewers and authoring tools is encouraged.

Known implementations are documented in the public Implementation Report. A test suite is also available via the WebCGM 2.0 Test Suite page.

This WebCGM 2.0 edition incorporates all known errata as of the publication date. The list of changes made since the Proposed Recommendation is available in Appendix D1.

Please report errors in this document to the public email list public-webcgm@w3.org(public archive). Use "[REC Comment]" in the subject line of your email.

This document has been reviewed by W3C Members, by software developers, and by other W3C groups and interested parties, and is endorsed by the Director as a W3C Recommendation. It is a stable document and may be used as reference material or cited from another document. W3C's role in making the Recommendation is to draw attention to the specification and to promote its widespread deployment. This enhances the functionality and interoperability of the Web.

This document was produced by a group operating under the 5 February 2004 W3C Patent Policy. W3C maintains a public list of any patent disclosures made in connection with the deliverables of the group; that page also includes instructions for disclosing a patent. An individual who has actual knowledge of a patent which the individual believes containsEssential Claim(s) must disclose the information in accordance with section 6 of the W3C Patent Policy.