Computer Graphics Metafile (CGM) is an ISO standard, defined by ISO/IEC
8632:1999, for the interchange of 2D vector and mixed vector/raster graphics.
WebCGM is a profile of CGM, which adds Web linking and is optimized for Web
applications in technical illustration, electronic documentation, geophysical
data visualization, and similar fields. First published (1.0) in 1999 and
followed by a second
(errata) release in 2001, WebCGM unifies potentially diverse approaches
to CGM utilization in Web document applications. It therefore represents a
significant interoperability agreement amongst major users and implementers
of the ISO CGM standard.
WebCGM 2.0 adds a DOM (API) specification for programmatic access to
WebCGM objects, and a specification of an XML Companion File (XCF)
architecture, for externalization of non-graphical metadata. WebCGM 2.0, in
addition, builds upon and extends the graphical and intelligent content of
WebCGM 1.0, delivering functionality that was forecast for WebCGM 1.0, but was
postponed in order to get the standard and its implementations to users
expeditiously.
The design criteria for WebCGM aim at a balance between graphical
expressive power on the one hand, and simplicity and implementability on the
other. A small but powerful set of standardized metadata elements supports
the functionalities of hyperlinking and document navigation, picture
structuring and layering, and enabling search and query of WebCGM picture
content.
This section describes the status of this document at the time of its
publication. Other documents may supersede this document. A list of current
W3C publications and the latest revision of this technical report can be
found in the W3C technical reports index
at http://www.w3.org/TR/.
This is the Recommendation
of the WebCGM 2.0. This document is a product of the WebCGM Working Group as part
of the Graphics
Activity.
This specification was produced jointly by OASIS and W3C
and published on 30 January 2007 by both organizations. It is published simultaneously as anOASIS Standard and a W3C
Recommendation.
The two documents have exactly identical content except for cover page and
formatting differences as appropriate to the two organizations.
With a few exceptions such as feature deprecations, WebCGM 1.0
functionality is a subset of WebCGM 2.0 functionality. While the WebCGM 1.0
Recommendation published on 17 December 2001 remains a valid
specification, primarily to support existing data and applications, use of
WebCGM 2.0 viewers and authoring tools is encouraged.
Known implementations are documented in the public Implementation
Report. A test suite is also available via the WebCGM 2.0 Test
Suite page.
This WebCGM 2.0 edition incorporates all known errata as of the
publication date. The list of changes made since the Proposed Recommendation
is available in Appendix
D1.
Please report errors in this document to the public email list public-webcgm@w3.org
(public
archive). Use "[REC Comment]" in the subject line of your email.
This document has been reviewed by W3C Members, by software developers,
and by other W3C groups and interested parties, and is endorsed by the
Director as a W3C Recommendation. It is a stable document and may be used as
reference material or cited from another document. W3C's role in making the
Recommendation is to draw attention to the specification and to promote its
widespread deployment. This enhances the functionality and interoperability
of the Web.
This document was produced by a group operating under the 5 February 2004
W3C Patent Policy. W3C maintains a public list of any
patent disclosures made in connection with the deliverables of the group;
that page also includes instructions for disclosing a patent. An individual
who has actual knowledge of a patent which the individual believes contains
Essential
Claim(s) must disclose the information in accordance with section
6 of the W3C Patent Policy.
