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SQL/XML Group Picks INCITS to Develop Standards

INCITS
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Group Focused on SQL/XML Specifications Picks INCITS to Develop Standards
Oracle to Host November 6 Meeting; Open to All Interested Parties

Washington, D.C. October 18, 2002 - The SQLX Group, which has been developing specifications related to the combined use of SQL and XML since 2000, has voted to formalize its work through the InterNational Committee for Information Technology Standards (INCITS). The new organization, which will be known as Task Group H2.3, will be part of INCITS Technical Committee H2-Database.

"While the SQLX Group worked well for two years, members recently became aware of some disadvantages associated with their informal mode of operation," explained Kate McMillan, director of the Secretariat for INCITS. "As a result, representatives from member companies asked INCITS' H2 to establish a new Task Group so that future proposals linked to the SQL/XML specification could be developed within the de jure standards environment." INCITS has worked in the de jure standards arena since 1961, when it was first accredited by the American National Standards Institute.

SQLX formed because enterprises using SQL and XML together do so with an eclectic and ad hoc mixture of technologies, virtually all proprietary in nature. Particularly in the area of representing SQL data in XML format, there are no known de facto standards; instead, virtually every user of SQL data in an XML context has been creating new Document Type Descriptions (DTDs) or other metadata representations for each specific purpose.

H2.3 Scope of Work
Task Group H2.3 aims to create a new part of the SQL standard to cover specifications addressing such issues as:

  • Representation of SQL in XML form, and vice versa
  • Mapping SQL schemata to and from XML schemata
  • Representation of SQL Schemas in XML
  • Representation of SQL actions (insert, update, delete)
  • Messaging for XML when used with SQL
  • Manner in which SQL language can be used with XML

"In forming the new Task Group, we want to make it clear that H2.3 has no intention of duplicating or conflicting with W3C's specifications, but instead hopes to complement W3C recommendations," noted Fred Zemke, Oracle Corporation's representative to H2 and the temporary convener of H2.3.

Meeting Details
"In keeping with INCITS' policy of inclusion, we welcome other IT vendors, users and other materially interested parties to the inaugural meeting, and hope many will opt to become voting members of the Task Group," Zemke added.

The first meeting of H2.3, which may be attended either in person or by telephone, is scheduled for
Wednesday, November 6, 2002, at 10 AM
Oracle Conference Center [for a map to the Oracle Conference Center: http://hqcc.us.oracle.com/directions.html]
350 Oracle Parkway
Redwood Shores, CA 94065
For dial-in information and additional meeting details, contact fred.zemke@oracle.com.

About INCITS
The InterNational Committee for Information Technology Standards (INCITS) is the venue of choice for information technology developers, producers and users for the creation and maintenance of formal IT standards. INCITS is accredited by, and operates under rules approved by, the American National Standards Institute (ANSI). These rules are designed to ensure that voluntary standards are developed by the consensus of directly and materially affected interests. Contact: INCITS Secretariat, Information Technology Industry Council (ITIC), 1250 Eye St. NW, Suite 200, Washington, DC 20005   (www.incits.org) .

About INCITS Technical Committee H2-Database
Technical Committee H2 on Database develops standards for the syntax and semantics of database languages. These languages are used by computer processes and human users to store, retrieve, update and administer large structured data collections. Technical Committee H2 coordinates its work with related projects of ISO/IEC JTC1/SC32/WG3, WG4, WG5. H2 is the U.S. Technical Advisory Group (TAG) to ISO/IEC JTC1/SC32/WG3, WG4, WG5.