Learn more about WebCGM

WebCGM FAQ

  1. What is WebCGM?

    WebCGM is a new profile of the CGM standard (ISO/IEC 8632) that describes how CGM vectors, raster, and hybrid graphics are to be used on the Web. It is a consensus of users and vendors of CGM on a way to exchange dynamic, hyperlinked CGM files over the Web.

  2. What is the significance of WebCGM...why is it important?

    WebCGM provides a vendor-neutral standard for 2D graphics that will enable creators and consumers to exchange, view, and browse intelligent, vector, raster, or hybrid graphics very reliably. For the first time, users will be able to create graphics in one tool and view/browse them in another, without loss or distortion of information.

  3. Who will implement WebCGM-based tools and who will use them?

    Several members of the CGM Open Foundation have committed to support WebCGM in the next release of their respective software products. Support of WebCGM in a wide variety of drawin 20 and viewing packages is anticipated as WebCGM gains acceptance in the Web publishing market. The U.S. Navy is 20 considering WebCGM as a standard and a variety of companies and industry groups, which currently rely on CGM as an 20 exchange standard, have expressed interest in adopting WebCGM.

  4. What will drive WebCGM's implementation and utilization (adoption) and prohibit it from becoming standards "shelf ware"?

    The availability of reasonably priced authoring and viewing tools is essential for its success.

  5. How easy is WebCGM to implement?

    CGM toolkits are available for those who wish to build WebCGM capability into their products. Also, ready-to-use software components and standalone products for creating and viewing WebCGM files will be available soon from a variety of vendors.

  6. How long will it take for CGM vendors to implement WebCGM?

    First demonstrations of WebCGM products are planned to start this spring.

  7. Will users of existing CGM-based products need to purchase WebCGM-compatible tools or will vendors automatically provide WebCGM capabilities as upgrades, without additional cost?

    It depends on the vendor. Some vendors who are already producing intelligent CGM files may choose to offer WebCGM at no additional charge. Others may choose to build new WebCGM products, or offer options to existing products.

  8. What is the next step for CGM, WebCGM and the CGM Open Foundation?

    The CGM standard is in the final stages of being republished. All Amendments and defects are being folded into the new documents. In addition to the traditional paper, CGM: 1999 will be available in an HTML version on the WWW.

    WebCGM will continue to evolve as users and vendors gain experience, but the authors believe that Edition 1.0, as it exists today will be a very useful, stable standard on which to base industrial-strength web publishing solutions. CGM Open is in the final stages of affiliating with OASIS. As an affiliate of OASIS, CGM Open will continue to work on CGM interoperability issues, integration technology for managing intelligent graphics, interfaces with other structured information standards such as XML and SGML, and education/marketing programs.

  9. How is WebCGM different from other graphics standards?

    WebCGM is based on a stable, open, ISO standard. Unlike raster image file formats, which represent pictures as arrays of pixels, WebCGM represents abstract graphical elements such as lines, circles, ellipses, text strings, and curves. These abstract elements can be grouped together into a variety of graphical objects and these objects can be defined to have prescribed behaviors. This makes it very easy to create graphical presentations, which react to user inputs in interesting ways.

  10. Which CGM Open Foundation members have committed to implementing WebCGM?

    Currently, Inso, InterCAP, ITEDO, Larson Software Technology and SDI have committed to support WebCGM.

  11. Why was the W3C so intimately involved in working with the CGM Open Foundation and ISO to issue WebCGM as a W3C Recommendation?

    A strong working relationship already existed between the W3C and ISO/IEC SC24, the ISO subcommittee responsible for developing and maintaining the CGM standard. Many of the CGM Open experts involved in drafting the WebCGM profile are also active in SC24 work and have worked on other joint projects with the W3C. The WebCGM effort is a good example of how ISO and consortia such as CGM Open and the W3C can successfully collaborate to bring strong, stable, useful standards to the marketplace in a very short time.