In Search of PrintTalk and JDF -- McIlroy

Wow! They're trying to create data and workflow standards for the entire graphic arts process, for the first time bridging everything from creative to delivery! I like it.

It's based on XML—I know you'll recall from my column last year ("What is XML, and Why Should You Care?" March 2000)—which is both a way of tagging content and a way of encoding information about processes. XML is proving to be a widely supported standard across the publishing and e-commerce communities. Given the intention to have JDF "streamline information exchange between different applications and systems," it makes a lot of sense to use XML for encoding the data.