copyright 1997-2002 cardiff software inc. all rights reserved. xml meets forms micah dubinko, cdia...
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Copyright 1997-2002 Cardiff Software Inc. All rights reserved.
XML Meets Forms
Micah Dubinko, CDIAChief XML ArchitectEditor, W3C XForms
Cardiff Software, Inc.3220 Executive Ridge Drive
Vista, CA 92083www.Cardiff.com
Copyright 1997-2002 Cardiff Software Inc. All rights reserved.
Why Put Forms Online?
• $22.5B Spent on Pre-Printed Forms (US)(DMIA Formtrac)
• 30% of Pre-Printed Forms Turn to Waste(DMIA Formtrac)
• A Single Paper Form Costs An Organization $30 - $165 to Use, Process and Enter (Microsoft Study)
Copyright 1997-2002 Cardiff Software Inc. All rights reserved.
Historical eForm Approaches Have Limitations
• Proprietary eForm formats - vendor lock-in• Client/server• Browser plugins• Java applets• Proprietary formats: XFDL, XFA
• eForms = Programming• Unfriendly for non-technical users• Creation & maintenance of forms is IT-resource
intensive
• Few vendors offer migration path from paper• Getting from paper to eForms is slow, expensive• Once on eForms, no automated support for paper
Copyright 1997-2002 Cardiff Software Inc. All rights reserved.
“5 Phases of eForms”
Phase1Phase1““Print to Print to
PDFPDFAnd Put And Put Online” Online”
Phase2Phase2““Fill and Fill and Print” Print”
Phase3Phase3““Design, Design,
Fill,Fill,Validate, Validate, Print or Print or
Submit” Submit”
Phase4Phase4““Fill,Fill,
Validate, Validate, Print/SubmiPrint/Submi
t and t and Route”Route”
Phase5Phase5““Design, Fill,Design, Fill,
Validate, Validate, Attach, Attach,
Print/Submit, Print/Submit, Route, Digitally Route, Digitally
Sign, and Sign, and Output/ConnecOutput/Connec
t” t”
Copyright 1997-2002 Cardiff Software Inc. All rights reserved.
World Web Consortium (W3C) XForms
• XForms Working Group created to define a Web-based standard for presentation and information
• W3C XForms Working Group• Members include Cardiff Software, IBM,
Oracle, Netscape, HP, Xerox, Ericsson, Mozquito and others…
• Author and technical editor of the draft specification
Copyright 1997-2002 Cardiff Software Inc. All rights reserved.
Agenda
• The New XForms Standard• XForms Design Goals• XForms Quick Tour• XForms vs. Closed Systems• Preparing for XForms Today• Further Information
Copyright 1997-2002 Cardiff Software Inc. All rights reserved.
XForms Requirements
• Define XML interface for eForms• Define form presentation format• Define data format and structure• Leverage XML Schema, later XML
Digital Signature• Provide a suitable replacement for
HTML forms• Provide greater Accessibility
Copyright 1997-2002 Cardiff Software Inc. All rights reserved.
XForms Design Goals
• Be a good XML citizen• Seamless integration with other XML tag sets
• Anywhere, anyone, any time, any device• Support for desktop browsers, handheld,
phones, ATMs, gasoline pumps, etc…• Remove Script Dependencies
• Richer user interface to meet the needs of business, consumer and device control applications
• From simple client/server to n-tier• Decoupled data, logic and presentation
Copyright 1997-2002 Cardiff Software Inc. All rights reserved.
A Brief History of eForm Standards
Pre-1993: Proprietary,Client/Server
1993: HTML forms
1994–2001: Nothing happened
2002: XForms
Copyright 1997-2002 Cardiff Software Inc. All rights reserved.
HTML Forms Limitations
• Some Assembly Required• <input value=“initial value”>
• Primitive Data Representation• URL encoded
• Need Script to do anything…• Validations• Calculations• Dynamic Forms
Copyright 1997-2002 Cardiff Software Inc. All rights reserved.
The “New” Web
0
20
40
60
80
100
2001 2002 2003 2004
Trend: Conventional Browsers are historyBrowsersDevices
Copyright 1997-2002 Cardiff Software Inc. All rights reserved.
XForms Conformance Profiles
• Two conformance profiles to support wide range of devices
• Basic: small devices, TV, phones, etc.• Full: desktop browsers, servers
• High-level form control definitions• Flexibility in implementation
Copyright 1997-2002 Cardiff Software Inc. All rights reserved.
How It Works
• XForms separates the data from the form definition
<html>
</html>
<head>
</head>XForms Model
Purpose(non-visible)
<body>
</body>
PresentationForm controls
Copyright 1997-2002 Cardiff Software Inc. All rights reserved.
How It Fits In
User Presentation
ImplementationImplementationPlatformPlatformToolsTools
FrameworksFrameworks
Application SchemasApplication Schemas
Core StandardsCore StandardsW3C XML, XSL, etc.
W3C XForms, XML Sign
Vendor Implementations
XForms ServicesDesigner/HTML/PDF/XMLWeb Server (Routing, etc)Connectivity (Data/Archive)
User PresentationHTML
Adobe PDF
Others via XSL
Copyright 1997-2002 Cardiff Software Inc. All rights reserved.
XForms Model
• Defines the ‘Purpose’ of the form• Includes:
• Instance Data• XForms specific properties and actions• Submit Information
Copyright 1997-2002 Cardiff Software Inc. All rights reserved.
XForms Model
• Single, device-independent XML form definition
• Works with standard or proprietary user interfaces
Copyright 1997-2002 Cardiff Software Inc. All rights reserved.
Separate Purpose from Data
Purpose Presentation Data
Event Registration Arrangement of form controls
Registration information
Employee
hours worked
UI for collecting dates and times worked
Days and hours worked
eCommerce application
Present shopping user interface
Order, shipping, and payment info
Information request
Integrate forms UI into WWW page
User contact information
Copyright 1997-2002 Cardiff Software Inc. All rights reserved.
XForms Instance
• Provides template for your data• Provides default or partially submitted
data• Can be inline or referenced externally
Copyright 1997-2002 Cardiff Software Inc. All rights reserved.
XForms Without Scripting
• XML Schema defines static constraints• Datatypes• minimum/maximum occurrences
• XForms extends these with ‘computed expressions’
• Evaluated at runtime• Is something relevant or required?• Calculated fields
Copyright 1997-2002 Cardiff Software Inc. All rights reserved.
XForms UI Controls
• <selectOne ref="my:icecream/my:flavor"> <caption>Flavour</caption> <item><caption>Vanilla</caption><value>v</value></item> <item><caption>Strawberry</caption><value>s</value></item> <item><caption>Chocolate</caption><value>c</value></item></selectOne>
listbox checkbox radio menu
Copyright 1997-2002 Cardiff Software Inc. All rights reserved.
XForms Vs. HTML Controls
XForms form control
Closest HTML equivalent
Description
<input> <input type="text"> For entry of small amounts of text
<textarea> <textarea> For entry of large amounts of text
<secret> <input type="password">
For entry of sensitive information
<output> N/A For inline display of any instance data
<range> N/A For smooth "volume control" selection of a value
<upload> <input type="file"> For upload of file or device data
<button> <button> For activation of form events
<submit> <input type="submit"> For submission of form data
<selectOne> <select> or <input type="radio">
For selection of one option among several
<selectMany> <select multiple="multiple">
For selection of many options
Copyright 1997-2002 Cardiff Software Inc. All rights reserved.
XForms Actions
• Defines common set of behaviors for forms
• Allows event processing without requiring Javascript
Copyright 1997-2002 Cardiff Software Inc. All rights reserved.
XForms Action
• Messages• <message level=“ephemeral”>Please enter the number…</message>• <message level=“modal”>This field is required (Street)</message>• <message level=“modeless”>Have you forgotten your
password</message>
ephemeral
modeless
modal
Copyright 1997-2002 Cardiff Software Inc. All rights reserved.
XForms Submit
• Provides How, Where, and What to submit
• Multiple models per page• Partial form submission
• Default is ‘post’ of XML Instance
Submit
Copyright 1997-2002 Cardiff Software Inc. All rights reserved.
HTML vs. XForms
HTML1. Poor integration
with XML 2. Device dependent,
running well only on desktop browsers
3. Blending of purpose and presentation
4. Limited accessibility features
XForms1. Excellent XML and
Schema integration
2. Device independent, yet still useful on desktop browsers
3. Strong separation of purpose from presentation
4. Universal accessibility
Copyright 1997-2002 Cardiff Software Inc. All rights reserved.
Proprietary Proprietary FormatFormat
Client/Server eForms = Closed SystemsProductProductss
User ExperienceUser Experience
JetformJetformFillerFiller
FormFlow99 FormatJetform
PureEdgePureEdgePureEdge
FillerFillerPureEdge Form Format
Shana ShanaShanaFillerFiller
Shana Informed Format
X X
XX
Copyright 1997-2002 Cardiff Software Inc. All rights reserved.
Making the Transition
• Deploy XML data through Web Services• RPC-style bad; Document-style good• Plain-old XML even better
• Don’t assume browser-only access• Avoid dependence on HTML processing• Think beyond client-server• Embrace open standards
Preparing for the future of eForms:
Copyright 1997-2002 Cardiff Software Inc. All rights reserved.
For More Information…
• http://www.w3.org/TR/xforms/• http://www.w3.org/MarkUp/Forms• http://www.xml.com/• http://dubinko.info/
• Mailing List:• www-forms@w3.org Subj:“subscribe”
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