Separating into layers - the W3C approach leveraged...

["David RR Webber \(XML\)" <david@drrw.info>]

Seems like we can finesse this here by applying the layered approach with extensions.  The OASIS CAM templates use this same technique - providing the core function set - and then letting people provide their own extensions.

 

Therefore - in this model you have <XTX> that does the 80:20 markup for document content - based on xhtml + limited additions.  Then you leverage xslt for rendering - and provide an <Extensions> section for vendors to support their own tool needs and WYSIWG thru their own non-normative stuff.

 

Here's how this would look in a package:

 

<Doc-Package>

  <DITA>

  <XTX>

  <xslt url="here.xsl"/>

  <Extensions>

     <OOXML>

     <ODF>

     <DocBook>

  <Extensions>

</Doc-Package>

 

In this model - you only need to make the XTX normative and the Doc-Package - you let vendors sort out their own non-normative peices - and submit those as addendums to the spec' to the TC.

 

This allows you to isolate the work needed for the TC - from what everyone else needs to do.

Avoiding the ugly!

 

Thanks, DW

"The way to be is to do" - Confucius (551-472 B.C.)