Generalized Markup Language (GML) is a set of
macros that implement intent-based (procedural) markup
tags for the
IBM text formatter,
SCRIPT
Script may refer to:
Writing systems
* Script, a distinctive writing system, based on a repertoire of specific elements or symbols, or that repertoire
* Script (styles of handwriting)
** Script typeface, a typeface with characteristics of ha ...
. SCRIPT/VS is the main component of IBM's Document Composition Facility (DCF). A ''starter set'' of tags in GML is provided with the DCF product.
Characteristics
GML was developed in 1969 and the early 1970s by
Charles Goldfarb,
Edward Mosher
Edward is an English given name. It is derived from the Anglo-Saxon name ''Ēadweard'', composed of the elements '' ēad'' "wealth, fortune; prosperous" and '' weard'' "guardian, protector”.
History
The name Edward was very popular in Anglo-Sa ...
and
Raymond Lorie (whose surname initials were used by Goldfarb to make up the term GML).
Using GML, a document is
marked up with tags that define what the
text is, in terms of
paragraphs,
headers,
lists,
tables, and so forth. The document can then be automatically formatted for various
devices simply by specifying a profile for the device. For example, it is possible to format a document for a
laser printer
Laser printing is an electrostatic digital printing process. It produces high-quality text and graphics (and moderate-quality photographs) by repeatedly passing a laser beam back and forth over a negatively-charged cylinder called a "drum" to ...
or a line (
dot matrix
A dot matrix is a 2-dimensional patterned array, used to represent characters, symbols and images. Most types of modern technology use dot matrices for display of information, including mobile phones, televisions, and printers. The system is al ...
) printer or for a screen simply by specifying a profile for the device without changing the document itself.
The
Standard Generalized Markup Language
The Standard Generalized Markup Language (SGML; ISO 8879:1986) is a standard for defining generalized markup languages for documents. ISO 8879 Annex A.1 states that generalized markup is "based on two postulates":
* Declarative: Markup should ...
(SGML), an
ISO-standard technology for defining generalized
markup language
Markup language refers to a text-encoding system consisting of a set of symbols inserted in a text document to control its structure, formatting, or the relationship between its parts. Markup is often used to control the display of the document ...
s for documents, is descended from GML.
The
Extensible Markup Language
Extensible Markup Language (XML) is a markup language and file format for storing, transmitting, and reconstructing arbitrary data. It defines a set of rules for encoding documents in a format that is both human-readable and machine-readable. T ...
(XML) was initially a streamlined and simplified development of SGML, but has outgrown its parent in terms of worldwide acceptance and support.
A GML script example
:h1 id='intr'.Chapter 1: Introduction
:p.GML supported hierarchical containers, such as
:ol.
:li.Ordered lists (like this one),
:li.Unordered lists, and
:li.Definition lists
:eol.
as well as simple structures.
:p.Markup minimization (later generalized and formalized in SGML),
allowed the end-tags to be omitted for the "h1" and "p" elements.
Related programs
In the early 1980s, IBM developed a dedicated publishing tool called Information Structure Identification Language (ISIL) based on GML. ISIL was used to generate much of IBM documentation for the IBM PC and other products at this time. In the late 1980s, a commercial product called BookMaster was developed, based mostly on ISIL.
During the early 1980s, Don Williams at IBM developed DWScript to use the SCRIPT/VS on the IBM PC.
[DWScript - Document Composition Facility for the IBM Personal Computer Version 4.6 Updates, DW-04167, Nov 8th, 1985] In 1986, he developed a PC version of ISIL called DWISIL. These products were used only internally at IBM.
See also
*
HyperText Markup Language
*
Standard Generalized Markup Language
The Standard Generalized Markup Language (SGML; ISO 8879:1986) is a standard for defining generalized markup languages for documents. ISO 8879 Annex A.1 states that generalized markup is "based on two postulates":
* Declarative: Markup should ...
*
XML
Extensible Markup Language (XML) is a markup language and file format for storing, transmitting, and reconstructing arbitrary data. It defines a set of rules for encoding documents in a format that is both human-readable and machine-readable. T ...
*
SCRIPT (markup)
SCRIPT,Stuart E. Madnick and Allen G. Moulton (1968) IEEE Transactions on Engineering Writing and Speech, Vol. EWS-11, No. 2, pp. 92-100. any of a series of text markup languages starting with Script under Control Program-67/Cambridge Monitor Sy ...
*
Information Presentation Facility Information Presentation Facility (IPF) is a system for presenting online help and hypertext on IBM OS/2 systems. IPF also refers to the markup language that is used to create IPF content. The IPF language has its origins in BookMaster and Ge ...
- a descendant of GML, used by
IBM to write
OS/2's electronic books and online help.
References
External links
*
*
{{Authority control
Markup languages
Generalized Markup Language
Generalized Markup Language (GML) is a set of macros that implement intent-based (procedural) markup tags for the IBM text formatter, SCRIPT. SCRIPT/VS is the main component of IBM's Document Composition Facility (DCF). A ''starter set'' of ...