AIIM International Announces XML Standards Initiative for the Exchange of Document Images and Related Metadata.

Business Editors/Hi-Tech Writers

SILVER SPRING, Md.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--April 20, 2001

New Standard will Enable XML Users to Leverage Existing Software

Systems and Expertise to Exchange Images of Documents, Related

Indices, and Metadata

AIIM International, the Enterprise Content Management (ECM) industry association, today announced the development of a new project investigating the methods of using Extended Markup Language (XML) tags to facilitate the exchange of information managed by document management technologies, including the associated metadata defining and/or describing the information to be shared.

The study focuses specifically on document image files and may result in the development of an International Standard within ISO TC171/SC2/WG2.

Scanned bitmap images of paper documents have become a common method of storing and sharing information in the business and private sector. The increasing growth of the Internet and sharing of information demands an efficient standardized method for exchanging images and the metadata associated with them.

This project drives to establish a standard for not only enabling the sharing of images, but also the critical index and other values needed to store, retrieve, and distribute them.

"We view this project as an opportunity to provide the industry with much needed direction toward the standardization of XML for use in exchanging images and the critical data associated with them," said John Mancini, president, AIIM International.

"We look forward to extending the industry's knowledge on best practices for leveraging all image data, as related to enterprise content management."

XML is rapidly growing in use as a method of sharing metadata with text files, but does not currently support binary data, such as document images. This project will investigate ways to accomplish the exchange of images using XML data structures, to enable the growing body of XML users to leverage existing software systems.

The goal of the standard is to improve document image exchange and facilitate the sharing of indices and other data without needing to convert them from other non-standard formats.

An initial task force has been formed and other software vendors will be joining the project. William E. Neale, from eVisory, and Bob Blatt with EID have agreed to chair the effort.

"This standard will provide the link between the many different XML schemes by providing a common interchange format, a crucial element for managing enterprise content," said Mr. Neale. Primary responsibility for development of XML standards rests with the W3C consortium.

As such, AIIM will coordinate with both the W3C and JTC1 toward the development of the use of XML for document images, as well as with Metadata Coalition, Dublin Core, NISO and other metadata efforts. Individuals or organizations interested in joining the committee should contact Betsy Fanning, AIIM International, at [phone], or via email at [e-mail].

About AIIM International

AIIM International is the global Enterprise Content Management Association connecting the users and suppliers of e-business technologies and services. AIIM International represents the specific area of Enterprise Content Management (ECM) within e-business - the technologies used to create, capture, customize, deliver, and manage enterprise content to support business processes.

These technologies are key enablers of e-business and include: content/document management, business process management, enterprise portals, knowledge management, image management, data warehousing, and data mining.

A neutral and unbiased source of information, AIIM International produces educational, solution-oriented events and conferences, provides up-to-the-minute industry information through publications and its industry web portal, and is an ANSI/ISO-accredited standards developer. Additional information about AIIM is available on the Web at: www.aiim.org.