The China Electronics Standardization Association Wednesday announced the creation of a "docbase technical standardization working commission," which will push a new standard aiming to doff all software with the general functions of unstructured documents.

Explaining the reason behind the move, an official with the commission revealed that many electronic documents could not be freely exchanged since they are processed through different software, the compatibility of which is low due to being monopolized by several large companies.

Han Jun, an official with the Ministry of Information Industry, revealed that China would be the world leader in proposing the "docbase technical standardization" since international systems did not currently possess any comparable mechanism.

Han hailed docbase technology as providing a vital component in the domestic software industry and would allow more innovation in the future.

The precise aim of the docbase technical standardization process is to provide all users with the full general functions of an unstructured document. This will include page description, RIP, font management, information retrieval, storage, information security, document organization as well as query and search. The software will act as an adaptor, permitting smooth document transfers between different applications. One practical example will be allowing documents written in certain programs to be edited in different software.

(Xinhua News Agency April 5, 2007)