CMLComp Standardization

CML standards

http://www.xml-cml.org(CML) is currently formally described only by a WXS (W3C XML Schema) Schema. It is not intended that CML's syntax and semantics are entirely defined by this schema, but in the absence of a more complete schema language, no other formal schemata are available.

CMLComp standards

CMLComp is a subset of CML which has three primary layers:

A description of the background to and interplay between these layers is available in this paper (unpublished, in submission).

The syntax of the first two components, microformats and document structure, can be expressed quite aptly in a mixture of Relax-NG and Schematron (commonly called Relaxotron).

The development of this schema is still underway. Recent versions are available from the git repository at http://www.uszla.me.uk/git/CMLComp.git (view online at http://uszla.me.uk/gitweb/CMLComp.git).

CMLComp conformance levels

There are two levels of conformance for CompCML; microformat conformance and document structure conformance.

It is important to note that neither of these conformance levels are affected by the use of XML languages other than CML - microformats may be inserted into a non-CML document, and it still be conformant, and equally, non-CML elements may be used (in certain places) within a correctly structured CML document, and it still be conformant.

Furthermore, note that CMLComp defines the syntax and semantics of only a small portion of the full CML language. Where CML elements are used whose behaviour is not defined by CMLComp, conformance levels are not affected - that is to say that you may use additional CML elements within your CMLComp documents.

For information on how to use a schema validator to check conformance, see ConformanceCheckers.

CMLComp-micro

CMLComp-micro conformance guarantees that all CMLComp microstructures used within a document are syntactically correct according to CompCML strictures. This enables CMLComp microformats to be embedded within any XML file; for example within an XHTML document, or a CML document format of your own devising.

If a document conforms to CMLComp-micro, then information can be extracted and machine processed by CMLComp-aware tools.

To check microformat conformance, run your document through a schema checker against this schema.

For further details on what microformats are governed by CMLComp, and their definition, see CmlMicroformats.

CMLComp-doc

CMLComp-doc conformance guarantees not only that all CMLComp microstructures used in a document are correct, but also that the document is structured according to the conventions of CMLComp.

Conformance to this level allows document-level viewing tools to be used, as well as more powerful analysis programs. It also enables human comprehension of your documents by conforming to commonly understood conventions.

To check document-level conformance, run your document through a schema checker against this schema.

For further details on the CMLComp document structure, see DocumentStructure.