Overview
ISO/IEC 8613-4:1994 - "Information technology - Open Document Architecture (ODA) and Interchange Format: Document profile" defines the purpose and structure of the document profile used in ODA-based interchange. The standard specifies the attributes that describe a document for reliable exchange so that receiving systems can either present the document as intended by the originator or process it (edit, reformat, archive). It applies to common office items - memoranda, letters, invoices, forms and reports - that may combine text, raster graphics and geometric graphics, and supports interchange by communications or storage media.
Key topics
- Purpose and scope of the document profile within the ODA series (facilitating presentation and processing).
- Document profile attributes - a comprehensive list of metadata and structural flags that identify document characteristics and processing expectations.
- Presence of document constituents:
- Generic and specific layout structure
- Generic and specific logical structure
- Layout and presentation styles
- Security and protection:
- Sealed and enciphered profiles
- Pre-/post-enciphered and pre-/post-sealed body parts
- ODA security label and encoding of sealed information
- Document application profile and defaults - defining how applications should interpret and implement profile attributes
- Content architecture classes and interchange format class, including the ODA version and alternative feature sets
- Document management attributes: description, dates/times, originators, external/local references, content attributes and security information
- Annexes: format of personal names, minimum attribute set for application profiles, and an example document profile
Applications
- Ensuring interoperability between word processors, DMS (document management systems), and archiving tools that implement ODA.
- Defining application profiles for organizations to guarantee minimum attribute support and predictable processing/presentation.
- Supporting secure document exchange workflows where parts of a document must be sealed or encrypted.
- Guiding implementers in handling resources (fonts, images), layout styles and mixed content types (text + raster + geometric graphics).
- Enabling archives and long-term preservation systems to capture necessary metadata for re-rendering or editing documents later.
Who should use this standard
- Software vendors implementing ODA/Interchange Format support
- Document management and archiving system designers
- Government and enterprise IT procurement teams requiring standardized document exchange
- Standards bodies and test labs defining conformance profiles and interoperability tests
Related standards
- Other parts of the ISO/IEC 8613 series (Parts 1–14) and ITU‑T Rec. T.414 (identical text)
- Related character, font and encoding standards referenced by the profile (e.g., ISO 8601 for dates)
Keywords: ISO/IEC 8613-4:1994, Open Document Architecture, ODA, document profile, document interchange, interchange format, document application profile, sealed profile, enciphered profile, document metadata.
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