All of the technologies used within the Aerospace and Defence department conform to the ISO8879 specification and, where appropriate, to the W3C XML recommendations. Both SGML and XML are ISP8879 Applications.
ISO 8879
This specification dictates how markup languages are to behave.
This is mature international specification dated 1986. Although there have been some modifications carried out to the specification it remains substantially the same as when it was issued as there has been no need to change it. A number of suggested modifications were discussed, but the advent of the XML recommendations covered all and more of these so not further progress was made (or suggested).
W3C XML
The W3C XML recommendations are a development of the ISO 8879 specification. The work done by the W3C organisation to publish their recommendations has advanced the functionality of the specification a long way.
The Aerospace and Defence department staff are fully conversant with both areas of these instruments. Also, given the close cooperation that exists between the various Mekon departments, extra resources are always available to ensure that any work undertaken is carried out to the highest possible standard.
