XML packaging specification being developed for OEB

Everyone,

My company, GlobalMentor, Inc., is a member of the W3C. We've been quite
active in the Open eBook Forum, where I've just finished serving as
maintenance sub-chair for the Publication Structure Working Group,
supervising the creation of the OEB Publication Structure 1.0.1 (see
http://www.openebook.org/oebps/oebps1.0.1/download/index.htm ).

The OEBPS 1.0.1 includes a rudimentary way of specifying how documents and
other resources relate to one another in an eBook. The OEBF PS Working Group
is now working on the OEBPS 2.0, and it's becoming clear that we'll need
several more complex constructs in what we've been calling the "OEB package
file".

I currently have the responsibility in the OEB PS WG of creating the
specification for the package format for OEBPS 2.0. The current draft, which
I've attached, is certainly useful for OEB's purposes, but I've constructed
it with the expectation that it could be useful as a more general XML
packaging mechanism. In fact, my company will also be using this
specification with little modification for a separate non-eBook project in
which we're involved with another company.

I'm submitting the current draft to the W3C XML packaging list primarily to
make the OEBF's work known to the W3C and to receive feedback from packaging
experts that would be useful to the OEB Publication Structure Working
Group's development effort for the OEBPS 2.0. I therefore welcome whatever
comments anyone might give on the attached draft's use of XLink, it's
linking model, and its syntax.

The OEB PS WG will be pressing forward with this packaging effort, as it is
a required portion of the OEBPS 2.0 which we must release. If our work in
process were to spark any interest in continuing the W3C's packaging
efforts, that would be an added bonus.

Sincerely,

Garret Wilson
GlobalMentor, Inc.
http://www.globalmentor.com
garret@globalmentor.com
W3C member
Open eBook Forum Working Group member