N1713

                                      ISO/IEC JTC1/SC18/WG8 N1713
                      ISO/IEC JTC1/SC18/WG8
         Document Processing and Related Communication—
          Document Description and Processing Languages
Title:             Response to Japanese request for status of
                   SGML review (N1675)
Source:            WG8/SGML RG
Project:           1.18.15.1
Project editor:    Charles F. Goldfarb
Status of          Approved by WG8
document:
Requested action:  For information
Date               21 April 1994
Distribution:      WG8 and liaisons
References:
Supersedes:
    Response to Japanese request for status of SGML review (N1675)
The SGML Rapporteur Group members present at the Alexandria, Va.
meeting have responded to the comments contained in the submission
from the Japanese member body (N1675) as follows:
Comments received from Member Bodies are numbered and distributed to
members and correspondents of WG8. Comments created or collected by
individual WG experts are numbered as and when they are formally
submitted. At that time, they are also distributed to members and
correspondents of WG8. All comments formally submitted by Member
Bodies or individual experts have been distributed to all members and
correspondents of WG8.
While WG8 appreciates the value that a precise schedule
would have for planning purposes, ISO directives do not require a
schedule for the type of review we are conducting.  This is
fortunate because we do not believe such a schedule would have
sufficient likelihood of accuracy to make it beneficial, for the
following reasons:
1. It is impossible to predict the number of comments we may receive
   in the future.
2. Substantial analysis of most comments is required to estimate the
   amount of time that resolution of it might require.
3. We are committed to a complete clause-by-clause review of ISO 8879.
   This review could generate requirements for changes in addition to
   those suggested by comments. The number, complexity, and severity of
   such changes cannot be estimated prior to the review.
4. We are committed to complete backward compatibility for existing
   documents. This requirement places significant demands on the wording
   of any agreed changes to make sure that we do not inadvertently modify
   an existing provision of the standard. The time required for such
   rewording cannot be predicted.
SGML is a very successful standard with a large installed base. As a
result, we cannot treat this work the same as a New Work Item
Proposal. Accuracy and quality have to be considered more important
than speed because of the possibility of adverse impact to existing
users.
Further information about the review procedures and schedules can be
found in the Second Interim Report on the SGML Review (WG8 N1701).

[Link to ISO 8879 Review Current Information Set]