Copyright Cardiff Software Inc. All rights reserved. XML Meets Forms Micah Dubinko, CDIA Chief XML Architect Editor, W3C XForms Cardiff Software, Inc Executive Ridge Drive Vista, CA

Copyright Cardiff Software Inc. All rights reserved. Why Put Forms Online? $22.5B Spent on Pre-Printed Forms (US) (DMIA Formtrac) 30% of Pre-Printed Forms Turn to Waste (DMIA Formtrac) A Single Paper Form Costs An Organization $30 - $165 to Use, Process and Enter (Microsoft Study)

Copyright Cardiff Software Inc. All rights reserved. Historical eForm Approaches Have Limitations Proprietary eForm formats - vendor lock-in Client/server Browser plugins Java applets Proprietary formats: XFDL, XFA eForms = Programming Unfriendly for non-technical users Creation & maintenance of forms is IT-resource intensive Few vendors offer migration path from paper Getting from paper to eForms is slow, expensive Once on eForms, no automated support for paper

Copyright Cardiff Software Inc. All rights reserved. “5 Phases of eForms” Phase1 “Print to PDF And Put Online” Phase2 “Fill and Print” Phase3 “Design, Fill, Validate, Print or Submit” Phase4“Fill, Validate, Print/Submit and Route” Phase5 “Design, Fill, Validate, Attach, Print/Submit, Route, Digitally Sign, and Output/Connect”

Copyright Cardiff Software Inc. All rights reserved. World Web Consortium (W3C) XForms XForms Working Group created to define a Web-based standard for presentation and information W3C XForms Working Group Members include Cardiff Software, IBM, Oracle, Netscape, HP, Xerox, Ericsson, Mozquito and others… Author and technical editor of the draft specification

Copyright Cardiff Software Inc. All rights reserved. Agenda The New XForms Standard XForms Design Goals XForms Quick Tour XForms vs. Closed Systems Preparing for XForms Today Further Information

Copyright Cardiff Software Inc. All rights reserved. XForms Requirements Define XML interface for eForms Define form presentation format Define data format and structure Leverage XML Schema, later XML Digital Signature Provide a suitable replacement for HTML forms Provide greater Accessibility

Copyright Cardiff Software Inc. All rights reserved. XForms Design Goals Be a good XML citizen Seamless integration with other XML tag sets Anywhere, anyone, any time, any device Support for desktop browsers, handheld, phones, ATMs, gasoline pumps, etc… Remove Script Dependencies Richer user interface to meet the needs of business, consumer and device control applications From simple client/server to n-tier Decoupled data, logic and presentation

Copyright Cardiff Software Inc. All rights reserved. A Brief History of eForm Standards Pre-1993:Proprietary, Client/Server 1993:HTML forms 1994–2001:Nothing happened 2002:XForms

Copyright Cardiff Software Inc. All rights reserved. HTML Forms Limitations Some Assembly Required Primitive Data Representation URL encoded Need Script to do anything… Validations Calculations Dynamic Forms

Copyright Cardiff Software Inc. All rights reserved. The “New” Web

Copyright Cardiff Software Inc. All rights reserved. XForms Conformance Profiles Two conformance profiles to support wide range of devices Basic: small devices, TV, phones, etc. Full: desktop browsers, servers High-level form control definitions Flexibility in implementation

Copyright Cardiff Software Inc. All rights reserved. How It Works XForms separates the data from the form definition XForms Model Purpose (non-visible) Presentation Form controls

Copyright Cardiff Software Inc. All rights reserved. How It Fits In User Presentation ImplementationPlatformTools Frameworks Application Schemas Core Standards W3C XML, XSL, etc. W3C XForms, XML Sign Vendor Implementations XForms Services Designer/HTML/PDF/XML Web Server (Routing, etc) Connectivity (Data/Archive) User Presentation HTML Adobe PDF Others via XSL

Copyright Cardiff Software Inc. All rights reserved. XForms Model Defines the ‘Purpose’ of the form Includes: Instance Data XForms specific properties and actions Submit Information

Copyright Cardiff Software Inc. All rights reserved. XForms Model Single, device- independent XML form definition Works with standard or proprietary user interfaces

Copyright Cardiff Software Inc. All rights reserved. Separate Purpose from Data PurposePresentationData Event RegistrationArrangement of form controls Registration information Employee hours worked UI for collecting dates and times worked Days and hours worked eCommerce application Present shopping user interface Order, shipping, and payment info Information request Integrate forms UI into WWW page User contact information

Copyright Cardiff Software Inc. All rights reserved. XForms Instance Provides template for your data Provides default or partially submitted data Can be inline or referenced externally

Copyright Cardiff Software Inc. All rights reserved. XForms Without Scripting XML Schema defines static constraints Datatypes minimum/maximum occurrences XForms extends these with ‘computed expressions’ Evaluated at runtime Is something relevant or required? Calculated fields

Copyright Cardiff Software Inc. All rights reserved. XForms UI Controls Flavour Vanilla v Strawberry s Chocolate c listboxcheckboxradiomenu

Copyright Cardiff Software Inc. All rights reserved. XForms Vs. HTML Controls XForms form control Closest HTML equivalent Description For entry of small amounts of text For entry of large amounts of text For entry of sensitive information N/AFor inline display of any instance data N/AFor smooth "volume control" selection of a value For upload of file or device data For activation of form events For submission of form data or For selection of one option among several For selection of many options

Copyright Cardiff Software Inc. All rights reserved. XForms Actions Defines common set of behaviors for forms Allows event processing without requiring Javascript

Copyright Cardiff Software Inc. All rights reserved. XForms Action Messages Please enter the number… This field is required (Street) Have you forgotten your password ephemeral modeless modal

Copyright Cardiff Software Inc. All rights reserved. XForms Submit Provides How, Where, and What to submit Multiple models per page Partial form submission Default is ‘post’ of XML Instance Submit

Copyright Cardiff Software Inc. All rights reserved. HTML vs. XForms HTML 1.Poor integration with XML 2.Device dependent, running well only on desktop browsers 3.Blending of purpose and presentation 4.Limited accessibility features XForms 1.Excellent XML and Schema integration 2.Device independent, yet still useful on desktop browsers 3.Strong separation of purpose from presentation 4.Universal accessibility

Copyright Cardiff Software Inc. All rights reserved. Proprietary Format Client/Server eForms = Closed Systems Products User Experience Jetform Filler FormFlow99 Format Jetform PureEdge PureEdge Filler PureEdge Form Format Shana Shana Filler Shana Informed Format X X X X

Copyright Cardiff Software Inc. All rights reserved. Making the Transition Deploy XML data through Web Services RPC-style bad; Document-style good Plain-old XML even better Don’t assume browser-only access Avoid dependence on HTML processing Think beyond client-server Embrace open standards Preparing for the future of eForms:

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