XML for forms

[Gavin McKenzie]

David,

Yes, but I would prefer to say that simple forms that don't have regulatory
requirements around their presentation can benefit from simple solutions.
i.e. choose the tool that suits the task.

But regulations and legal requirements around the presentation of forms,
which often constitute documents of record with all the usual legal
requirements, aren't going away anytime soon.

The reproduction of papers forms on screen often arise from such regulatory
requirements, and they also stem from the desire to ease training costs.  In
a transitional world people are moving from paper to electronic (or glass)
solutions.  If the on-screen representation looks like the form that people
have used on paper for years, and will continue to use until complete
adoption of an electronic solution, then the training costs are
significantly reduced.

I want to do my part to help people move to more effective solutions for
capturing and processing forms, but the reality of paper must be recognized.
Oh...and then there is the little secret in *many* organizations where after
a completely electronic workflow, a piece of paper needs to be printed and
put in a filing cabinet.

And I haven't even touched on the issues around signing a form and the need
to say that what I signed on screen is what turned up as a document of
record on paper.

Anyway...this clearly is an XML development forum, and I'm not looking to
start a religious discussion on forms...I just wanted to put in a few resons
for why paper keeps coming up as an important ingredient in forms.

Gavin.

========================================================
Gavin F. McKenzie          mailto:gmckenzi at jetform.com
Systems Architect          Vox:+1(613)230-3676
JetForm Corporation         or:+1(613)751-4800 ext 5277
http://www.jetform.com     Fax:+1(613)751-4864
========================================================


> -----Original Message-----
> From: David Megginson [mailto:david at megginson.com]
> Sent: Monday, July 05, 1999 8:44 AM
> To: xml-dev at ic.ac.uk
> Subject: RE: XML for forms
> 
> 
> Don Park writes:
> 
>  > > I haven't detected any real overwhelming momentum at W3C 
> to launch
>  > > an ambitious e-forms standardization project, although I seem to
>  > > recall that some WG or other has the mandate to enrich & extend
>  > > HTML forms... -T.
>  > 
>  > Perhaps the three groups (XFA, XFDL, and HTML forms) should get
>  > together outside W3C to create an XHTML module for rich form
>  > support.  It is my opinion that there is no clear winner in this
>  > area and there are many other e-form companies preparing to jump
>  > in.  Either that or another round of catfight is needed to clear up
>  > the air.
> 
> I have not more than glanced at either of the XML submissions, but I
> am hesitant about anything that tries to reproduce paper forms on the
> screen.  
> 
> I understand that during the 80's and 90's there has been a smallish
> niche market for that sort of thing (because of legacy regulations,
> especially in government and the military), but just as good, usable
> HTML pages don't look anything like magazine articles or ads, good,
> genuinely usable electronic forms don't look anything like paper
> forms.
> 
> A good XML forms language should be fairly simple; any hairy 
> stuff can 
> be offloaded to stylesheets for people who think they need it.
> 
> 
> All the best,
> 
> 
> David
> 
> -- 
> David Megginson                 david at megginson.com
>            http://www.megginson.com/
> 
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