%common.ent; ]> DocBook is an XML/SGML vocabulary particularly well suited to books and papers about computer hardware and software (though it is by no means limited to these applications). The DocBook Technical Committee maintains the DocBook schema. DocBook is officially available as a Document Type Definition (DTD) for both XML and SGML. It is unofficially available in other forms as well.

15 Jan 2003 Published Simplified DocBook V1.0, approved at the November (2002) telcon. 27 Dec 2002 Published new experimental RELAX NG and W3C XML Schema versions of DocBook XML V4.2 Added RSS feed. 05 Nov 2002 The DocBook TC published a revised charter, adopted by unanimous consent at the 15 Oct 2002 meeting. 12 Sep 2002 The DocBook TC announces the release of Simplified DocBook V1.0CR3, DocBook SVG V1.0CR1, and DocBook EBNF V1.1CR1 based on DocBook XML V4.2. 17 July 2002 The DocBook TC announces the release of DocBook V4.2 in XML and SGML. 13 June 2002 Released XML Character Entities V0.3. 21 May 2002 The DocBook TC announces the release of the DocBook SVG Module V1.0b2 in XML.

The DocBook Technical Committee meets in accordance with its charter. The charter was last modified by unanimous consent at the 15 Oct 2002 meeting.

The DocBook Technical Committee maintains the DocBook schema. DocBook is officially available as a Document Type Definition (DTD) for both XML and SGML. It is unofficially available in other forms as well, including W3C XML Schema, RELAX, and TREX. DocBook is an XML/SGML vocabulary particularly well suited to books and papers about computer hardware and software (though it is by no means limited to these applications). DocBook's history dates back to the early 90's.

The commitee members are: Dennis Evans, Sun Microsystems Paul Grosso, Arbortext Dick Hamilton, HP Nancy (Paisner) Harrison, Rational Software Sabine Ocker, Sun Microsystems Michael Smith, Individual Member Bob Stayton, Individual Member Norman Walsh, Sun Microsystems, Chair All members not explicitly identified as "prospective" are full, voting members.

The technical committee maintains several DocBook discussion lists. All of these lists are archived for public review. The lists are: docbook@lists.oasis-open.org for general discussion of DocBook. If you would like to suggest a change to the DocBook DTD, please post your suggestion to this list for discussion. The list of open requests is available in the Requests for Enhancement database. docbook-apps@lists.oasis-open.org for discussion of DocBook applications (editors, stylesheets, processors, etc.) docbook-tc@lists.oasis-open.org for the technical committee. This list is open to OASIS members only, but it is publicly archived. (Subscribing to the list does not constitute gaining committee membership; OASIS members must contact the committee chair to inquire about becoming a committee member.) The mailing list page includes posting guidelines, complete subscription details, and additional information.

The principal work product of the technical committee is the DocBook Document Type Definition.

Version 4.2 of the DocBook DTD (SGML), and the DocBook XML DTD. This version of DocBook is a Committee Specification. The DocBook DTD, (SGML) Version 4.1 and the DocBook XML DTD Version 4.1.2. This version of DocBook is an OASIS Standard. A module for Extended Backus-Naur Form diagrams. A module for HTML Forms. A module for MathML. A Simplified DocBook subset. DocBook: The Definitive Guide is the official reference documentation for DocBook.

The technical committee also provides test releases of upcoming work products and other unofficial documents. Outstanding proposals for changes to DocBook. DocBook schemas in RELAX NG, W3C XML Schema, RELAX (development suspended), and TREX (development suspended). Additional documentation. Sample documents. Tools. Requests for Enhancment (RFEs) and bug reports may be filed with the RFE Tracker in the DocBook project at SourceForge. Old RFEs, from a previous legacy tracking system, are archived for reference.

The DocBook Technical Committee meets by teleconference on the third Tuesday of each month at 01:00p EST (10:00a PST, 18:00GMT, 19:00CET, 03:00JST+) for 90 minutes with the following exceptions: 12 Nov 2002 instead of 19 Nov. The teleconference phone number is +1.877.455.8695 (+1.865.540.8745 internationally). The participant code is 749667. Attendance at teleconferences is restricted to members of the committee.

Notes and action items for previous meetings are posted here as soon as they are available. 17 Dec 2002, teleconference 19 Nov 2002, teleconference 15 Oct 2002, teleconference 17 Sep 2002, teleconference 20 Aug 2002, teleconference 16 Jul 2002, teleconference 25 Jun 2002, teleconference 21 May 2002, teleconference 16 Apr 2002, teleconference 19 Mar 2002, teleconference 19 Feb 2002, failed to acheive quorum 15 Jan 2002, teleconference 18 Dec 2001, teleconference 30 Nov 2001, teleconference 20 Nov 2001, teleconference. 16 Oct 2001, due to an oversight by the chair, this meeting did not achieve quorum. 24 Sep 2001, teleconference. 18 Sep 2001, reschedulued to 24 Sep 2001. 21 Aug 2001, teleconference. 17 Jul 2001, cancelled. 19 Jun 2001, teleconference. 22 May 2001, teleconference. 18 May 2001, teleconference. 23 Feb 2001, teleconference. 07 Dec 2000, colocated with XML/MT 2000 in Washington, DC (USA). 14 Jun 2000, colocated with XML Europe 2000 at the Palais Des Congres De Paris in Paris (France). 01 Mar 2000, colocated with X-Tech 2000 at the San Jose Convention Center in San Jose, CA (USA). 06 Dec 1999, colocated with XML/MT'99 in Philadelphia, PA (USA). 08 Mar 1999, colocated with XTech'99 in San Jose, CA (USA). 13 Nov 1998, colocated with XML'98 in Chicago. The OASIS DocBook TC web pages are maintained by Norman Walsh.

DocBook can be a sysadmin's best friend, Joshua Drake, Sep, 2001. O'Reilly Releases DocBook: The Definitive Guide Under the GNU License, Sep, 2001. Take My Advice: Don't Learn XML, Michael Smith, July, 2001.