Generalized Markup Language
Encyclopedia
Generalized Markup Language (GML) is a set of macros that implement intent-based markup tag
s for the IBM
text formatter, SCRIPT/VS. 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.
GML was developed in the 1960s by Charles Goldfarb
, Edward Mosher 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 paragraph
s, header
s, 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
or a line (dot matrix) printer or for a screen simply by specifying a profile for the device without changing the document itself.
The Extensible Markup Language
(XML) was initially a streamlined and simplified development of SGML, but has outgrown its parent in terms of worldwide acceptance and support.
: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.
During the early 1980s, Don Williams at IBM developed DWScript to use the SCRIPT/VS on the IBM PC. In 1986, he developed a PC version of ISIL called DWISIL. These products were only used internally at IBM.
Tag (metadata)
In online computer systems terminology, a tag is a non-hierarchical keyword or term assigned to a piece of information . This kind of metadata helps describe an item and allows it to be found again by browsing or searching...
s for the IBM
IBM
International Business Machines Corporation or IBM is an American multinational technology and consulting corporation headquartered in Armonk, New York, United States. IBM manufactures and sells computer hardware and software, and it offers infrastructure, hosting and consulting services in areas...
text formatter, SCRIPT/VS. 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.
GML was developed in the 1960s by Charles Goldfarb
Charles Goldfarb
Charles F. Goldfarb is known as the father of SGML and is a co-inventor of the concept of markup languages. In 1969 Charles Goldfarb, leading a small team at IBM, developed the first markup language, called Generalized Markup Language, or GML. In an , Dr...
, Edward Mosher 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
Character (computing)
In computer and machine-based telecommunications terminology, a character is a unit of information that roughly corresponds to a grapheme, grapheme-like unit, or symbol, such as in an alphabet or syllabary in the written form of a natural language....
is, in terms of paragraph
Paragraph
A paragraph is a self-contained unit of a discourse in writing dealing with a particular point or idea. A paragraph consists of one or more sentences. The start of a paragraph is indicated by beginning on a new line. Sometimes the first line is indented...
s, header
Page header
A page header or simply header in typography is text which is separated from the main body of text and appears at the top of a printed page...
s, 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 printer
A laser printer is a common type of computer printer that rapidly produces high quality text and graphics on plain paper. As with digital photocopiers and multifunction printers , laser printers employ a xerographic printing process, but differ from analog photocopiers in that the image is produced...
or a line (dot matrix) printer or for a screen simply by specifying a profile for the device without changing the document itself.
The Extensible Markup Language
XML
Extensible Markup Language is a set of rules for encoding documents in machine-readable form. It is defined in the XML 1.0 Specification produced by the W3C, and several other related specifications, all gratis open standards....
(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.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. In 1986, he developed a PC version of ISIL called DWISIL. These products were only used internally at IBM.
See also
- HyperText Markup Language
- Standard Generalized Markup LanguageStandard Generalized Markup LanguageThe Standard Generalized Markup Language is an ISO-standard technology for defining generalized markup languages for documents...
- XMLXMLExtensible Markup Language is a set of rules for encoding documents in machine-readable form. It is defined in the XML 1.0 Specification produced by the W3C, and several other related specifications, all gratis open standards....
- SCRIPT/VS