OASIS Unites TREX and RELAX

[Carol Geyer <carol.geyer@oasis-open.org>]

OASIS Unites TREX and RELAX to Create Lightweight XML Language
Validation Specification

Boston, MA, USA; 5 June 2001—Members of the OASIS TREX Technical
Committee announced their decision to integrate TREX (Tree Regular
Expressions for XML) and RELAX (REgular LAnguage description for XML) in
order to collaborate on a unified lightweight specification for
validating XML-based languages. They renamed their work RELAX NG.

RELAX was initially developed at the Information Technology Research and
Standardization Centre (INSTAC) in Japan, which advances Japanese
national standards for XML under the auspices of the Japanese Standard
Association (JSA). TREX was created by James Clark, widely regarded as
one of the most prolific contributors to the field of structured
information standards. Clark decided to continue development of his
schema language at the OASIS XML interoperability consortium in March
2001.

“RELAX and TREX both focus on simplicity,” said James Clark, chair of
what is now the OASIS RELAX NG Technical Committee. “RELAX NG will
remain straightforward and easy to use, incorporating the best of TREX
and RELAX.”

“It’s important to note that RELAX NG isn’t intended to replace the W3C
XML Schema Recommendation. Instead, it represents a lightweight
alternative to Schema,” explained Murata Makoto, one of the original
developers of RELAX.  “We believe that users are likely to adopt
multiple schema languages, and many will find RELAX NG fills a very
important need.”

According to the OASIS technical committee, the specification offers a
middle ground that will make RELAX NG a useful tool for many developers.
The team is interested in facilitating conversion among DTDs, XML Schema
and RELAX NG.

“RELAX NG fits in well with the W3C XML Schema Formal Description,”
added Clark. "Our hope is that RELAX NG will be a constructive influence
on the future development of XML Schema."

Karl Best, director of technical operations at OASIS, applauded the
decision of the technical committee to unite TREX and RELAX. “The goal
of OASIS is to bring together parallel standards development efforts
whenever possible, to promote collaboration and prevent overlap,” he
said. “We welcome this decision by the TREX Technical Committee to unite
their efforts with RELAX.”

Those interested in participating in the development of RELAX NG are
encouraged to join the OASIS RELAX NG Technical Committee. More
information is available on
http://www.oasis-open.org/committees/relax-ng/index.shtml.


About OASIS
OASIS (http://www.oasis-open.org) is the international, not-for-profit
consortium that advances electronic business by promoting open,
collaborative development of interoperability specifications. With the
United Nations, OASIS sponsors ebXML, a global framework for electronic
business data exchange. OASIS operates XML.ORG, the non-commercial
portal that delivers information on the use of XML in industry. The
XML.ORG Registry provides as an open community clearinghouse for
distributing and locating XML application schemas, vocabularies and
related documents. OASIS serves as the home for industry groups
interested in developing XML specifications. OASIS technical work
embraces conformance, security, business transactions, repositories and
other interoperability issues.

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For more information:
Carol Geyer
Director of Communications
OASIS
carol.geyer@oasis-open.org
+1.941.284.0403