When Web-based e-commerce is written, XML could be one of the more important development than HTML in accelerating business on the Web. The reason is that XML could do what HTML could not do it. XML will be able to link many systems to gather.

1. Web Modeling Language (WebML)

http://www9.org/w9cdrom/177/177.html

objectives, Web Modeling Language (WebML) is a notation for specifying complex Web sites at the conceptual level. WebML enables the high-level description of a Web site under distinct dimensions: (1) its data content [structural model], (2) the pages that compose it [composition model], (3) the topology of links between pages [navigation model], (4) the layout and graphic requirements for page rendering [presentation model], (5)the customization features for one-to-one content delivery [personalization model]. All the concepts of WebML are associated with a graphic notation and a textual XML syntax. WebML specifications are independent of both the client-side language used for delivering the application to users, and of the server-side platform used to bind data to pages, but they can be effectively used to produce a site implementation in a specific technological setting. WebML guarantees a model-driven approach to Web site development, which is a key factor for defining a novel generation of CASE tools for the construction of complex sites, supporting advanced features like multi-device access, personalization, and evolution management."

structure, The fundamental elements of WebML structure model are entities, which are containers of data elements, and relationships, which enable the semantic connection of entities. Entities have named attributes, with an associated type; properties with multiple occurrences can be organized by means of multi-valued components, which corresponds to the classical part-of relationship. Entities can be organized in generalization hierarchies. Relationships may be given cardinality constraints and role names. As an example, the following XML code represents the WebML specification of the structural schema for Artist: The structural schema consists of four entities (Artist, Album, Review and Track) and three relationships (Artist2Album, Artist2Review, Album2track). Entity Album has a multi-valued property represented by the Support component, which specifies the various issues of the album on vinyl, CD, and tape.

deliverables, The WebML language and its accompanying design method are currently under implementation in a pre-competitive Web design tool suite, called ToriiSoft.

success or failure, WebML is the backbone of Toriisoft, an environment for the computer-aided design of Web sites currently in an advanced development state. In particular, the Toriisoft tool suite comprises Site Designer, for editing the WebML specifications of the structural, hypertext, and personalization models; Presentation Designer, for visually defining presentation style sheets; Site Manager, for site administration and evolution. The architecture is completed by a Template Generator, which transforms WebML specifications into Microsoft’s Active Server Page (ASP) templates running on top of relational DBMSs for data storage. Code generation is based on standard XML technology (XSL) and therefore Toriisoft can be easily extended to support template generation in more than one markup language and for multiple server-side scripting engines. Work is ongoing on the translation of WebML specifications into WML-based ASP templates, thereby providing evidence that the model-driven approach of WebML is particularly effective in supporting multi-device Web sites.

2. Intuit's QuickBooks Extensible Markup Language (qbXML)

http://xml.coverpages.org/ni2001-09-24-a.html

objectives, Intuit's QuickBooks Extensible Markup Language (qbXML) is a language at the core of a new framework that allows electronic exchange, creation and management of accounting and other business data." Following the design maxim "Never Enter Data Twice (NED2)," Intuit is constructing the XML specification for third-party applications to use to exchange data with QuickBooks. "Data integration will be supported with both Web applications and Windows desktop applications. With

qbXML, software developers will be empowered to build specialized vertical applications and horizontal productivity applications that mine, enrich and share this data. Businesses stand to benefit by gaining maximum leverage of their most critical data. QuickBooks is Intuit's financial management system for small and medium-sized businesses. Business owners use QuickBooks to handle their financial and business management tasks. QuickBooks allows businesses to easily and safely manage their critical data such as accounts receivable; accounts payable; customer, vendor, and employee lists; and expense and time-tracking.

structure, The Structure of a qbXML Document The QuickBooks qbXML specification defines a request-response model and the data that may be exchanged between QuickBooks and an application that integrates with it. The qbXML specification gives the grammar to be used within qbXML documents and delimits the scope and constraints of the language-the data types, data structures, and operations supported. You create a qbXML document as a stream of data defined by the qbXML grammar. A qbXML document to be sent to QuickBooks must be specified as a text string. To be considered valid and well-formed, a qbXML document must meet a minimum set of requirements. Basically, it must contain the following two parts and meet the content requirements of each part: The prolog The prolog specifies the version of XML conformed to by the qbXML specification (which is the specification your document adheres to). It also provides information about the document type definition (DTD) in the form of a symbolic name or reference. QuickBooks interprets this reference and uses it to locate the DTDs to be used for validating the qbXML requests it receives from your application. Note: The DTDs are installed along with QuickBooks 2002. The body The body constitutes the remainder of the qbXML document. It contains the operations and data that drive the interactions between your application and QuickBooks. The body of a qbXML document can contain one or more request messages or response messages. Your application sends a qbXML document containing request messages to QuickBooks. In return, QuickBooks sends a qbXML document containing response messages. After you create a document formatted using qbXML grammar, you send the document to QuickBooks using the COM interface. Chapter 6, Connecting and Communicating Requests, describes in detail how to use the qbXML COM interface. Table 1 gives an overview of the structure of the qbXML documents for requests or responses. The structures of these documents mirror each other with the exception of the DOCTYPE statement, which is excluded from the response document. Note: Although the structure of these documents is similar, their content differs because their uses are inherently different. (One document implements requests, the other returns responses.) The objects they contain will not always contain the same data fields. Table 1 qbXML document structure: requests and responses qbXML request document (application-to-QuickBooks) qbXML response document (QuickBooks-to-application) Prolog: XML version DTD symbolic name (DOCTYPE statement) Body(qbXML Block): Request Message Set Requests... . . . Prolog: XML version Body(qbXML Block): Response Message Set Responses... . The qbXML design makes wide use of structures called aggregates. An aggregate is a structure that contains elements and possibly other aggregates, but no data. It collects (or aggregates) other elemental parts. An aggregate's elements may contain data. . .

introduction, OASIS was founded in 1993 under the name SGML Open. Originally a consortium of small software vendors and large customers devoted to developing guidelines for interoperability among SGML products, OASIS changed its name in 1998 to reflect the inclusion of the consortium CGM Open and the growing popularity of the XML subset of SGML.

objectives, OASIS is a not-for-profit, global consortium that drives the development, convergence and adoption of e-business standards.

structure, Members themselves set the OASIS technical agenda, using a lightweight, open process expressly designed to promote industry consensus and unite disparate efforts.

deliverables, OASIS produces worldwide standards for security, Web services, XML conformance, business transactions, electronic publishing, topic maps and interoperability within and between marketplaces.

OASIS has more than 400 corporate and individual members in 100 countries around the world. OASIS and the United Nations jointly sponsor ebXML, a global framework for e-business data exchange. OASIS operates XML.org, a community clearinghouse for XML application schemas, vocabularies and related documents. OASIS hosts The XML Cover Pages, an online reference collection for interoperable markup language standards. The OASIS Network includes CGM Open and LegalXML.

http://www.xml.org/xml/zapthink/std352.html

objectives, The SMBXML standard is an open XML format for describing business transactions. An Open Standard for Small to Medium sized Businesses.

structure, The purpose of SMBXML is to provide the small to medium sized business with the power and connectivity previously associated only with solutions for much larger organizations.

deliverables, The SMBXML standard is an open XML format for describing business transactions. Unlike previous standards, SMBXML specifically targets the needs of the small to medium sized business community.

Businesses should be able to select and deploy the Internet applications that best meet their specific needs. By using SMBXML, these applications will be able to share data seamlessly. In addition, SMBXML provides a common language for enabling trading relationships between businesses.

http://www.bolero.net/boleroxml/resources/index.php3

objectives, Complementary resources provide visitors to the bolero.net web site with additional information related to the boleroXML initiative, including the latest developments. BoleroXML enable users of bolero.net to take full advantage of electronic commerce by providing a set of standard electronic documents that will facilitate interoperability amongst the members of the community.

White Paper

This white paper provides more background on the use of boleroXML. It addresses a number of key issues related to the boleroXML Initiative that are especially important for organizations that are planning to develop software applications which implement the boleroXML Document Definitions.

structure, of boleroXML, bolero.net Trade Terms bolero.net has conducted a major consultation exercise to take standard trade settlement terms that exist in any cross-border trade transaction and moved them into the Internet age. For the first time, buyers and sellers, shippers and financial institutions have a set of common data protocols in an XML environment.

deliverables, The boleroXML strategy is based on the notion that the existing data interchange standards fail to meet the above mentioned criteria. Standards are vital to the exchange of information among parties. When all parties consistently use the same terminology and framework, documents anddata flow seamlessly.

success or failure, We are taking the lead in enabling members of the bolero.net community to take full advantage of electronic commerce by developing a set of simplified electronic trade document definitions, known as boleroXML document definitions. The bolero document definitions are founded upon a common business model that is technology-independent.

http://www.zapthink.com/reports/poster.html

objectives, Exclusive from ZapThink only! This attractive 18" x 24" poster was featured as an insert in Application Development Trends and circulated to over 80,000 XML and Web Services developers.

structure, The poster, updated as of May 2002, features over 135 of the most important, key XML and Web Services standards and includes the XML Core specifications, Web Services stack, ebXML, e-Commerce and e-Business standards, Content Management, security, transport and messaging protocols, Semantic Web, and tons of vertical industry standards including Financial Services, Life Sciences, Scientific, and dozens more.

deliverables, ZapThink provides quality, high-value, focused research, analysis, and insight on emerging technologies that will have a high impact on the way business will be run in the future.

ZapThink focuses on open, standards-based, loosely-coupled systems and technologies that represent an evolutionary advancement in computing that requires a new way of thinking about computing resources, capabilities, and programming methodology and architecture.

ZapThink produces and sells XML and Web Services-focused research and analysis reports including The Pros and Cons of XML, Web Services Technologies and Trends, The ZapThink XML Standards Report, as well as a number of other technology and industry-specific reports.

success or failure, Focus on open, standards-based, loosely-coupled systems and technologies that represent an evolutionary advancement in computing that requires a new way of thinking about computing resources, capabilities, and programming methodology and architecture.

Value - ZapThink produces the very best quality analysis and research due to the productivity and expertise of analysts.

Credibility - ZapThink analysts have the experience, knowledge, and open-mindedness required to be a credible, objective, and reliable source of analysis and perspective.

Thought-Leadership - ZapThink is constantly focused on pioneering, cutting-edge, emerging technologies that promise to impact our clients' bottom lines.

http://www.cpexchange.org/

objectives, Customer Profile Exchange standard, which creates the first global standard for privacy-enabled customer data interchange. The CPExchange standard allows enhanced customer service in e-business relationships.

structure, The Customer Profile Exchange (CPExchange) specification is a new standard that takes into account the traditional customer-facing facets of an enterprise, such as customer support, call centers, sales tracking, marketing campaigns and order tracking. This standard builds common ground with emerging web-based Internet Relationship Management (IRM) and Enterprise Relationship Management (ERM) approaches to online business, decision support, and personalisation.

deliverables, The CPExchange specification is a standard that will facilitate the privacy-enabled exchange of customer profile information. The CPExchange specification defines a data model for profile information that relates a customer or other business partner, to an enterprise. The CPExchange specification also defines metadata for associating privacy controls with various subsets of the profile information, as well as operations for query, delivery, and update of this information. This information is represented in Extensible Markup Language (XML), which can be exchanged through messages.

http://www.ebis-xml.org/

objectives, BASDA is the International Software Standards body based in the UK.

BASDA eBIS-XML standard has become the world’s first many-to-many eBusiness standard which allows orders and invoices to be exchanged directly between different accounting applications.

structure, The eBIS-XML message is that customers using eBIS-XML enabled business applications can send their orders via e-mail to anyone. If the receiving company is not using a BASDA eBIS-XML enabled application, the message can be simply treated like an ordinary e-mail.

deliverables, Based in the UK, BASDA is an international organisation with many members from overseas. The majority are software developers, although companies with an interest in the business software industry may join as associate members. BASDA's governing body is its General Council - a group of 12 elected representatives from member companies, who are drawn from all sectors of the business & accounting software market. Each BASDA member, whether large or small, has an equal voice in determining the future direction and development of the association.

success or failure, The BASDA standards have been adopted universally as the definitive requirements for the industry. Software packages, which have been independently tested for compliance with those standards, are awarded BASDA Accreditations.

http://www.hr-xml.org/channels/home.htm

objectives, hr-xml.org is home to the HR-XML Consortium, an independent, non-profit organization dedicated to the development and promotion of standardized XML vocabularies for human resources (HR). The HR-XML Consortium promot a standard suite of XML specifications to enable e-commerce and the automation of human resources-related data exchanges.

structure, Industry-standard XML vocabularies provide the means for one company to transact with many other companies without having to establish, engineer, and implement many separate interchange mechanisms. The HR-XML Consortium has more than 90 member organizations. The Consortium also offers an Associate Membership option for individuals who want to participate.

deliverables, Human resources-related e-commerce or any inter-company exchange of HR data requires an agreement among participants about how the transaction or data exchange will be accomplished. The mission of the HR-XML Consortium is to spare employers and vendors the risk and expense of having to negotiate and agree upon data interchange mechanisms on an ad-hoc basis. By developing and publishing open data exchange standards based on Extensible Markup Language ("XML"), the Consortium can provide the means for any company to transact with other companies without having to establish, engineer, and implement many separate interchange mechanisms.

We believe that open standards provide the best means of meeting the needs of the business community. By offering an open standard, we hope to encourage custom software development, interoperability between applications, and choice of component applications in a total business solution.