Biotechnology Calendar
XML and Syndication Initiative
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Schema |
XML |
XSL |
Form |
RSS |
This schema is open source via a Modified license. We solicit input and advice to improve the schema. The schema is registered at xml.org . The GNU General Public License may be reviewed at http://www.gnu.org/copyleft/gpl.html and http://www.opensource.org/licenses/gpl-license.php Please review the license before proceeding to use or modify the Schema or XSL files.
The XML content matches that of the Cato Calendar at http://www.cato.com/fyi/ and remains copyrighted.
The XSL replicates the format of the Cato Calendar and is open source. Recommendations for improvements will be happily received.
Please note that these files have only been checked against IE6 with the MSXML 3 parser; the XSL was developed in Xselerator. If your browser does not properly resolve the XML, then just Save it and work with it as a text document.
The Form is an exemplar of the schema to act as a visual aid. It does not send data.
Why XML?
For two reasons. One is that it makes it possible for readers of the calendar to do sorts, searches, etc., without the burden of a database on the back end. This presumes the existence of XSLT transformations and browsers that support them. The other is the more important ... it creates the possibility for standardized searches and exchanges of meeting calendars, instead of the current confusion in this domain of sites that belong to meeting providers and composite calendars.
The current situation with regard to meeting calendars is inefficient and characterised by idiosyncratic designs, prohibiting the usefulness of search engines and subjecting readers to much extra work, consequently making it harder for meeting organizers to make their products known in a timely manner. XML can help by providing a standard format for information content, while permitting branding of visual renderings via XSL or plain old HTML.
At this time (in 2003), there is a great lack of standardization in XML and XSL ... or maybe too much of it, it's hard to tell. At any rate, that mostly impacts viewing XML in a browser and useful searches, but leaves data exchanges in pretty good shape. Searches against XML are a mess, which is too bad since there is so much potential. Searches presume either no structure, which is the usual way of handling HTML, or profound structure based on taxonomies (ref. http://www.taxonomywarehouse.com/). A sort-of middle ground is the use of standardized metadata (ref. http://dublincore.org/).
It is my hope that meeting organizers will see the advantages of exporting their offerings to XML via the suggested schema or improvements to it, and locating the files somewhere conveniently exposed on their Web sites. This will encourage comprehensive calendar sites, such as mine, taxonomy builders, XSLT designers, and others to apply their creative talents to meeting calendars, which will benefit meeting sponsors.
This XML
The schema here is based on the review of many sites belonging to meeting sponsors, commercial and academic. There are some ambiguities for which comments are solicited. For instance, how should rescheduled events be handled ... should the original dates be data items or merely remarks? Should countries be identified by their names (e.g., United States) or by their 2-character codes (e.g., US)? Should uniqueIdentifier be of data type ID? What is a good way to handle proposed events when the date is uncertain?
Comments on any aspects of the schema are also solicited.
Please use the form as a visual aid to understanding the schema.
Why RSS?
Syndication is a natural complement to making the Calendar available in XML. Syndication makes it easy for individuals or pharma and biotech companies to find out when the Calendar has been updated. The entire process of finding out if the Calendar has been updated, to distributing it according to the interest profiles of people on a company's intranet, can be automated.
We use RSS 1.0, with elements to make it compatible with 0.9x, because 1.0 is both simple to create and rich in metadata.
XML.org XML resources at coverpages.org XML Search Tools About Syndication
Copyright 2003-2004© Cato Research Ltd.
26 mar 04