XML on the Move Michael C. Rawlins Principal, Rawlins EC Consulting

Flashback to May 1999 XML 1.0 was one year old (approved 2/98) “XML/EDI” Overview presentation –Criticized the hype –X12-XML –OO-edi Few production XML uses No: –XML in postsecondary education –W3C XML Schemas –“Standard” XML Purchase Order

Fast Forward to Present Little hype around XML Many XML production uses XML real in postsecondary education Hype about “XML Web Services” But, still no “standard” XML purchase order!

Topics Hype evaporated, but XML on the move Developments outside of postsecondary education affect us: –New applications for XML –Maturing software support –Eventual impact on our standards

Common Connections School Lender Ed Dept

Education is not an Island School Lender Ed Dept Insurer INS Employer IRS Supplier Retailer Supplier Manufacturer

Potential XML exchanges Procurement Employment inquiries Health insurance Payroll processing Tax filings Environmental reporting

Why XML has been so slow XML 1.0 Document Type Definitions (DTD) insufficient Standards body politics and inaction Complexity of the task

XML Refresher Sample (1) Rawlins (2) Rawlins Document Type Definitions and Schemas –Describe the data (pattern or cookie cutter) –Validate the data

Sample of issues Elements versus Attributes Naming conventions Analysis models Usage of Schema language

Why XML is moving W3C XML Schema Language May, 2001 Vertical industry efforts UN/CEFACT and ANSI ASC X12 finally on the move

Procurement and Payment OASIS Universal Business Language (UBL) ANSI ASC X12 –Invoice pilot –Payment order UN/CEFACT –Not as far along –Data element definition

Human Resources - HR-XML Benefits enrollment Education history Payroll processing Time and expense reporting Resume

U.S. Government Tax reporting and filing Environmental reporting (compliance, research) Federal E-Grants initiative SEVIS xml.gov

Software and Tools Integrated Development Environments (IDE) Application Programming Interface (API) Libraries EDI/EAI/B2B tools Desktop Software

IDEs Very useful for –Prototyping XML documents –DTD and Schema development –Stylesheet development Popular, mature packages –Altova’s XMLSpy –TIBCO’s TurboXML –eXcelon's Stylus Studio

API Libraries Apache Software Foundation –Xerces2 for Java and C++ –Xalan for XSLT Microsoft –XML Core Services (MSXML) –.Net Others –Oracle –Java & C++ Class generators –COBOL

EDI/EAI/B2B Major EDI translators Enterprise Application Integration –Mercator –Contivo –SeeBeyond Low cost, open source, or shareware –m-e-c eagle –xmlLinquist –“Using XML with Legacy Business Applications”

Standards Impact Evolution may affect –Non-education data exchanges –Postsecondary schemas Major players –UN/CEFACT –ANSI ASC X12

UN/CEFACT Evolution Parent of EDIFACT Working Group Open-edi framework Object-Oriented EDI (oo-edi) Sponsored Electronic Business XML (ebXML) initiative with OASIS UN/CEFACT Forum Fall 2002

UN/CEFACT Progress Current Status –Core Component Technical Specification approved (finally!) –Beginning syntax level design rules –Continuing business process analysis –Developing core components First schemas ?

UN/CEFACT Impact Global set of cross-industry schemas Long term potentials –Common data dictionary –Common approach to syntax design –Common approach to modeling Limiting factors –Complexity –Glacial pace

ANSI ASC X12 Existing EDI SPEEDE transactions Evolution –Ad hoc white paper 1998 –“Isomorphic” approach Fall 1999 –On hold with ebXML –Resumed late 2001

X12 Current Efforts Based on and largely compatible with ebXML Reference Model for XML Design, 9/02 Pilot work in Finance and Transportation Base standards - late 2003? First schemas - early 2004?

X12 Impact Immediate potential –Migrate XML Forum Transcript Schema –Basic cross-industry messages soon Long term depends on –X12 strategic direction re: UN/CEFACT –Quick wins –Pace & success of UN/CEFACT

Conclusions XML is here to stay Lots of activity Will impact Postsecondary education Keep watching!