IBM Generalized Markup Language: Difference between revisions

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== Characteristics ==

GML was developed in 1969 and the early 1970s by [[Charles Goldfarb]], [[Edward Mosher]] and [[Raymond Lorie]] (whose surname initials were used by Goldfarb to make up the term GML).<ref name="TheRootsOfSgml">{{cite web|url=http://www.sgmlsource.com/history/roots.htm|year=1996|title=The Roots of SGML - A Personal Recollection|author=Charles F. Goldfarb|accessdate=2007-07-07|archive-date=2012-12-20|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121220071917/http://www.sgmlsource.com/history/roots.htm|url-status=dead}}</ref>

Using GML, a document is [[Markup (computing)|marked up]] with tags that define what the [[Character (computing)|text]] is, in terms of [[paragraph]]s, [[Page header|header]]s, [[List (composition)|list]]s, [[Table (information)#Tables as features offered by application programs|table]]s, and so forth. The document can then be automatically formatted for various [[Peripheral device|device]]s 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|dot matrix]]) printer or for a screen simply by specifying a profile for the device, without changing the document itself.

The [[Standard Generalized Markup Language]] (SGML), an [[International Organization for Standardization|ISO]]-standard technology for defining generalized [[markup language]]s for documents, is descended from GML.<ref name="TheRootsOfSgml"/> The [[XML|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.

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== 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 Personal Computer|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.<ref>DWScript - Document Composition Facility for the IBM Personal Computer Version 4.6 Updates, DW-04167, Nov 8th, 1985</ref> In 1986, he developed a PC version of ISIL called DWISIL. These products were used only internally at IBM.

IBM uses GML as description language on [[IBM i]] and predecessors for objects called "panel groups". Panel groups can present just formatted help text to the user when pressing the [[help key]] (often F1), resemble the typical IBM i menus with embedded help texts, or complete application displays with input/output fields, and other [[Text-based user interface|TUI]] elements being formatted on screen according to [[IBM Common User Access|IBM CUA Standards]]. The overall facility is called [[User interface|User Interface]] Manager (UIM) and documented in ''Application Display Programming''.

== See also ==

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* {{cite web |title=GML Starter Set Tag Reference |publisher=IBM |url=https://www.ibm.com/docs/en/zos/2.1.0?topic=books-appendix-c-gml-starter-set-tag-reference}}

* {{cite web |title=Creating help text using UIM |date=2017 |publisher=RPGPGM.com |url=https://www.rpgpgm.com/2017/02/creating-help-text-using-uim.html}}

* {{cite web |title=Application Display Programming (SC41-5715) |date=2006 |publisher=IBM |url=https://www.ibm.com/resources/publications/OutputPubsDetails?PubID=SC41571501}}

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