IBM Generalized Markup Language: Difference between revisions

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'''Generalized Markup Language''' ('''GML''') is a set of [[Macro (computer science)|macros]] that implement intent-based markup [[Tag (metadata)|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).<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}}</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.

== A GML script example ==