Re[2]: Simple Vector file format for Web?

Richard_J_McWaters@ccmail.ed.ray.com
Mon, 31 Jul 95 14:02:27 EDT

The arguement around this and other discussions is weither these types
of files should be included as MIME types.

I vote most definitely. These are information type no different in
principle than PDF. They represent data in display only that require
an application lauched by the browser (not read by the browser). They
are a bit Engineering Centric, but represent information type.

You should include CGM, EDIF, CALS Group IV and IGES, since these are
documented standards. Other standards may exist for math or other
engineering disciplines.

I don't think browers themselves should try to display these or use
them as links.

______________________________ Reply Separator _________________________________
Subject: Re: Simple Vector file format for Web?
Author: mduerst@ifi.unizh.ch at PMDF
Date: 7/31/95 11:31 AM

>
>Peter K. Sheerin wrote to html-wg@oclc.org:
>
>> I have seen two discussions on supporting vector files on the web,
>> complete with hyperlinks in the vector image. One was an extension of CGM,
>> and the other was a new format called SVF.
>>
>> What is the current status of either of these proposals?

While I think it could be a good idea to have standards such as IGES and
CGM as MIME types, and have extensions in them for URLs, I think
a warning is appropriate here:

These formats are in no way "Simple Vector file formats" as the subject
suggests! Most CAD packages can output subsets of some of these
standards, and can then read back what they wrote. But you are very
lucky if a package can read what another package wrote, even
if both use the same standard.
It has to be said that in general, CAD system providers are not
very eager to give full convertibility to other systems, because
they are afraid of loosing their installed customer base.
However, it is clear that the main problem when trying to support
a full standard is the complexity of these standards. If most CAD
systems don't give full support for reading, I doubt whether an
average or even a high-end WWW browser will ever be able to
offer this functionality.

Regards, Martin.
----
Dr.sc. Martin J. Du"rst ' , . p y f g c R l / =
Institut fu"r Informatik a o e U i D h T n S -
der Universita"t Zu"rich ; q j k x b m w v z
Winterthurerstrasse 190 (the Dvorak keyboard)
CH-8057 Zu"rich-Irchel Tel: +41 1 257 43 16
S w i t z e r l a n d Fax: +41 1 363 00 35 Email: mduerst@ifi.unizh.ch

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