UPDF Minutes Miami

UPDF Meeting Minutes
Miami, Florida
March 5, 1999

Attendees

Sandra Matts Hewlett-Packard
Lee Farrell Canon
Craig Whittle Sharp Labs
Chuck Adams Tektronix
Jan Idomir Hewlett-Packard
Ben Brezinski Hewlett-Packard
Norbert Schade Xionics
Matt Howell Hewlett-Packard
Michael Yeung Canon
Rick Yardumian Xerox
Steve Schwartz Peerless
Don Wright Lexmark

Agenda

General

Microsoft has decided not to participate further in the UPDF effort.   They believe they have technology (GPD) which delivers the required functionality and will work on enhancing GPD only.

Norbert's proposal

The group reviewed Norbert's proposal concerning types of tags and virtual units and other aspects of what should be in a UPDF. The proposal is located at:      

 


UPDF Spec initial version

During the last meeting it was decided to create an XML version of current functionality of other printer description files such as PPD. The intent was to see if XML is the proper language to use. If it turns out that XML is a good fit, then this document can be our start for the UPDF specification. Michael Yeung from Canon did this work and presented the first version at this meeting. The result is that XML is a very good fit and we will use to specify the UPDF specification. Here is the actual initial (version 0.4) specification in word format:

It was noted the main goal of the UPDF is to be better and more improved than current technology.


Subgroup work

There will be three groups to continue the UPDF specification. They are Global, User Interface, Imaging. Each group will meet during the PWG conference week. User Interface will meet immediately after the Plenery for the day. The Imaging subgroup will meet on Thursday and the Global meeting will take place during the UPDF main meeting. The idea is that progress made during the User Interface and Imaging meeting can be reported and folded into the Global meeting on Friday. The group worked on the Global section from the UPDF specification and made a few minor modifications. The feeling from the group is that the initial Printer.header definition is complete with the needed information. I will send out the document as soon as Mike Y. makes the editing changes.

The group then prioritized the tasks for the User Interface and Imaging groups. The group wanted to make sure the subgroups had well-defined tasks for version 1 of the UPDF spec.

User Interface prioritization:

P1: Localization and resource

P2: Constraints and installable options

P3: Vendor extensions and widgets

Imaging prioritization:

P1: Paper handling and PDL order

P2: Fonts and graphics

P3: Callback mechanism and color

ISSUE: Should a checksum element be included in the spec. The checksum may be a component of the UPD and not the UPDF. It's up to the UPD to implement any checksum or merging of UPDF. 


Telephone conference and Long term and short term deliverables

The phone conference time is 10-12 Pacific on March 16 and 30. Phone number is: (612) 315-6802 and the access code is: 058459494.

Implementation Guide for each operating system for the Universal Printer Driver. We are only writing the Format specification that will enable a UPD to be written. Long term deliverable due: Denmark / Alaska timeframe.

Implementation Guide for protocols. IPP / ??? Due: ???

White paper for printing architectures in MacOs and Unix.   


XML Links

Specification is at www.w3.org/xml

XML FAQ is at www.ucc.ie./xml

Tim Bray’s annotated XML spec: www.xml.com/xml/pub/axml/axmlinto.html

Robin Cover’s XML site: www.sil.org/sgml/xml.html

     Contains a large number of links to every XML resource

XML info: www.xmlinfo.com

Seybold site: www.xml.com

XML Software: www.xmlsoftware.com


Links and info

UPDF Chairperson: Sandra Matts - Hewlett-Packard
Email: sandram@boi.hp.com
Mail list is upd@pwg.org
FTP archive is ftp://ftp.pwg.org/pub/pwg
PWG web site is www.pwg.org
Meetings schedule for 1999 is at www.pwg.org/chair/meet99.html

Mailing Lists

General Discussion: upd@pwg.org

To Subscribe:

Archive: ftp://ftp.pwg.org/pub/upd