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Subject: FW: AND makes address XML definition available to OASIS
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Hello CIQ'ers,
This seems like a very interesting thread to follow - however I do have the following remarks, and potential pitfalls I see along the way:
- These are *real* standardization institutes, thus not very fast. We may find their work not fitting our timelines. - Only the UPU is a truly worldwide organization, the others are European or US only. - We do not yet have clear insight in their goals and charter - in our CIQ kickoff meeting we have established that database development is different from development of a communications protocol, which we focus on (by agreeing on a multi-level standard, which trading partners can agree to use in a way to suit their needs). - I agree with this gentleman that address structures are non-trivial, otherwise we not not emphasize it this much in CIQ. But recently Ram and I have compared our XML Address definitions, which had been developed in isolation from each other, and they are very compatible in many respects. I believe we can safely assume we are on the right track here.
Having said this, these organizations represent a wealth of knowledge that we would be wise not to ignore. I suggest I have a talk with this gentleman (after all, Arnhem is only 80 kilometers from here!). If you have any issues other than the above you would like me to take with me, please let me know.
Cheers, Vincent
-----Original
Message----- Dear Mr
McGrath,
I am the chairman of
the working group address databases within CEN/TC331/WG3. CEN is the European
Standardization body. The task of my group is to develop a multi-part standard,
covering the definition of of address components and address structures, the
representation of addresses, the electronic exchange, the validation and
interpretation of address data. Currently, we have completed the first part of
the standard, which provides a dictionary of all possible components of postal
addresses, togeteher with examples of and constraints on their use. The standard
(which is in the enquiry phase of CEN at the moment) also contains a model of
the specification of an address, which the working group wishes to represent in
a formal language (possibly XML). Furthermore, the
United States Postal Service has made a proposal to the United Postal Union (UPU
- a UN organization) to assemble a development group with a vested interest in
the development of an international name and address standard. For this effort
they seek the cooperation of CEN (the working group address databases), the
UN/Edifact group, the Graphic Communications Association (GCA), The Direct mail
Advisory Board (UPU) and the PostCode group (UPU). During the last
plenary meeting of CEN/TC331/WG3 we agreed that we will join in this effort. It
will be my task to coordinate further cooperation. Since you have
recently set up the Customer Information Quality (GIQ) Technical Committee to
work on cross industry XML standards, I think we should have a closer look at
our common efforts. Harmonization is very
important for future implementation and having had a look at the XLM schema
provided by AND, I fear that their definition is somewhat engrafted on the PAF
(postal address file) data provided by Royal Mail. Mind you, I'm not an XML
expert, but I'm familiar with the specific terms used in PAF.
My fear is that the
CIQ technical committee will develop a standard which will eventually not match
with the international address standard being developed by CEN and UPU.
Therefore I would like to get in touch with the chairman of the CIQ
technical committee. Would it be possible for you to arrange an introduction? If
it would be necessary, I would be willing to become an associate member of
OASIS. Should you have any
further questions, feel free to contact me any time. I thank you very much for
taking my questions into consideration. Best
regards,
Holger
Wandt
Holger
Wandt
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