What is SGML?
Frequently Asked QuestionsSGML is an acronym for Standard Generalized Markup Language. Simply put, SGML is a standard set of rules for defining types of documents by their structure and content. Once defined, documents can be marked-up so that machines can recognize and process them by the structures and content they contain. There are many places that provide basic tutorials on SGML, explaining what it is and how it can be used. You can find some of these resources on our SGML Resources on th Web Page.
Related QuestionsFrequently Asked Questions about the Extensible Markup Langu...SGML is the Standard Generalized Markup Language (ISO 8879), the international standard for defining descriptions of the structure and content of different types of electronic document. There is an SGML FAQ at http://www.infosys.utas.edu.au/info/sgmlfaq.txt which is posted every month to the comp.text.sgml newsgroup, and the SGML Web pages are at http://www.oasis-open.org/cover/sgml-xml.html.Related Questions
What are SGML and HTML?
Web Design informationDocuments on the World Wide Web are written in a simple "markup language" called HTML, which stands for Hypertext Markup Language. When you point your Web browser to a URL, the browser interprets the HTML commands embedded in the page and uses them to format the page's text and graphic elements.
Related QuestionsWhy SGML and DocBook?
The NTP FAQ and HOWTOWell, I'm not getting paid for my work, so I tried to learn something new while writing this piece of documentation. SGML is one of the dinosaurs of information technology, an endangered species that may be killed by the more agile XML. So maybe feeding dinosaurs is just cool. DocBook is just another monster that is used by even larger monsters like HP for documentation. Definitely it's also animal, because it's used by O'Reilly & Associates, Inc.
Related QuestionsWhere can I learn about SGML?
Web Authoring FAQ (Web Design Group)Standard Generalized Markup Language is a language used to define the syntax of markup languages. HTML is an SGML application (a markup language defined in SGML).
Related QuestionsAre SGML or XML versions of the MARC 21 formats available?
MARC 21 Frequently Asked Questions (Library of Congress)The Network Development and MARC Standards Office has developed a framework for working with MARC data in a XML environment. This framework is intended to be flexible and extensible, allowing users to work with MARC data in ways that meet their specific needs. The framework contains many components such as schemas, stylesheets, and software tools developed and maintained by the Library of Congress. Conversion utilities between MARC (ISO 2709) and MARCXML are also available. Please see www.loc.
Related QuestionsWhat Is the Relation between XHTML and SGML?
XHTML FAQs - Introduction To XHTML 1.0SGML (Standard Generalized Markup Language) is a metalanguage in which one can define markup languages, like HTML, for documents. SGML is a descendant of IBM's Generalized Markup Language (GML), developed in the 1960s by Charles Goldfarb, Edward Mosher and Raymond Lorie (whose surname initials also happen to be GML).
Related QuestionsWhat is SGML? What is XML? What is a DTD?
FAQThere are many sources of information about these general topics. Robin Cover's SGML/XML Web Page is a great place to start.
Related QuestionsD.4 What else has changed between SGML and XML?
Frequently Asked Questions about the Extensible Markup Langu...The principal changes are in what you can do in writing a Document Type Definition (DTD). To simplify the syntax and make it easier to write processing software, a large number of SGML markup declaration options have been suppressed (see the list of omitted features). extra delimiter is permitted in Names (the colon) for use in experiments with namespaces (enabling DTDs to distinguish element source, ownership, or application).
Related QuestionsHow can I process the SGML source file?
The NTP FAQ and HOWTOI'm editing this document with the Linux/GNU operating system. Most Linux distributions come with the required tools. In my distribution these tools are in the following packages: So if you want to edit and validate any changes you are making, try to get the equivalent tools for your operating system as well. If you like the pain, you can use these tools on Microsoft Windows™ as well. Basically the command to generate HTML files is jade -t sgml -d NTP-FAQ.dsl#html NTP-FAQ.
Related QuestionsDo I have to switch from SGML or HTML to XML?
Frequently Asked Questions about the Extensible Markup Langu...No, existing SGML and HTML applications software will continue to work with existing files. But as with any enhanced facility, if you want to view or download and use XML files, you will need to add XML-aware software as it becomes available. Authors should also read the Developers' Section, which contains further information about the internals of XML files. No, XML itself does not replace HTML: instead, it provides an alternative which allows you to define your own set of markup elements.
Related QuestionsC.7 If XML is just a subset of SGML, can I use XML files directly with SGML tools?
Frequently Asked Questions about the Extensible Markup Langu...Yes, provided you use SGML software which knows about the new WebSGML Adaptations to ISO 8879 (features needed to support XML, such as the special form for EMPTY elements; some aspects of the SGML Declaration such as NAMECASE GENERAL NO; multiple attribute declarations, etc). An alternative is to use an SGML DTD to let you create an SGML file, but one which does not use empty elements; and then remove the DocType Declaration so it becomes a well-formed DTDless XML file.
Related QuestionsFrequently Asked Questions about the Extensible Markup Langu...Yes, provided: a) the document has a valid Document Type Definition (DTD), ie the files are valid, not just well-formed; and b) you use software which knows about the new WebSGML Adaptations to ISO 8879 (features needed to support XML, such as the special form for EMPTY elements; some aspects of the SGML Declaration such as NAMECASE GENERAL NO; multiple attribute declarations, etc).Related Questions
Frequently Asked Questions about the Extensible Markup Langu...Yes, provided you use SGML software which knows about the WebSGML Adaptations to ISO 8879 (features needed to support XML, such as the special form for EMPTY elements; some aspects of the SGML Declaration such as NAMECASE GENERAL NO; multiple attribute token list declarations, etc). alternative is to use an SGML DTD to let you create an SGML file, but one which does not use empty elements; and then remove the DocType Declaration so it becomes a well-formed DTDless XML file.Related Questions
If XML is just a 'subset' of SGML, can I use XML files directly with SGML tools?
Commonly Asked Questions about the Extensible Markup Languag...Yes, but at the moment there is still a need for tutorials, simple tools, and examples of XML documents. Well-formed XML documents may look very similar to HTML except for some small but important points of syntax. A DTD is usually a file (or several files together) which contain a formal definition of a particular type of document.
Related QuestionsC.2 Do I have to know HTML or SGML before I learn XML?
Frequently-Asked Questions about the Extensible Markup Langu...No, although it's useful because a lot of XML terminology and practice derives from two decades' experience of SGML. Be aware that ‘knowing HTML’ is not the same as ‘understanding SGML’. Although HTML was written as an SGML application, browsers ignore most of it (which is why so many useful things don't work), so just because something is done a certain way in HTML browsers does not mean it's correct, least of all in XML.
Related QuestionsWhat is the difference between SGML/XML and C or C++?
Frequently Asked Questions about the Extensible Markup Langu...C and C++ (and other languages like Fortran, or Pascal, or Basic, or Java or dozens more) are programming languages with which you specify calculations, actions, and decisions to be carried out:do when @front(@date,6) is equal "01-Apr" print "April Fool!\n" else print @days(@datesub("25-Dec",@date)),\ " shopping days to Christmas\n" done SGML and XML are markup specification languages with which you can design ways of describing information, usually for storage, transmission, or processing by a .
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