Display producers are hearing more and more about JDF these days as they investigate workflow options and introduce greater levels of integration into their working lives. This job ticketing standard provides a resilient methodology which can encompass every aspect of production, control and tracking, specifically targeted at the printing industry.

Underpinning JDF is the XML schema which doesn't need to be understood in a great level of complexity but, as the job definition format is based on this standard, there are those who find it of interest. To give it its full name, eXtensible Markup Language uses an encoding algorithm which can be read both by machines and humans as it is character based. If it seems reminiscent of SGML (standard generalised markup language), then it's hardly surprising as that's where its origins lie, with XML having been developed as a subset primarily for delivering information over the internet.

As to the point of XML, think of it as a carrier. Whereas HTML can display your data, XML is the vehicle which structures and stores it. Unbeknown to most people, it has become a ubiquitous tool for handling data transmission between different applications. Hence its value for JDF because, with its plain text forms, it simplifies data exchange so that information is device independent and easy to share.

Also playing a role in relevant formats is an extensible metadata platform, known as XMP, which again is based on open standards and provides metadata integration and the vital stepping stones needed when developing optimised workflow solutions. Developed by Adobe, its intention is to standardise intent so that applications and systems understand the purpose and content of a document via the use of enclosed metadata. XMP is already incorporated in Adobe Acrobat, InDesign and Illustrator with the idea of simplifying integration with different workflow configurations.

'Why does all this matter?' I hear you cry. Yes, strings of important-sounding initials describing formats and functions might seem somewhat over the top but it is important to remember that those elements of digital management we take for granted have been put there by human beings for a reason. These are the people who have worked hard to transform the original codes we came to appreciate in the early days of the web, turning them into acceptable standards which can enable vital integration and commonality to take place so that we don't have to worry about compliance and behaviour between different operations and devices.

As such, we have forward-thinking developers and integrators to thank for making these formats work with one another. Without them, linking together and automating various parts of our day-to-day operations would probably still lie in the dark ages.