ISO IEC 19756-2011 PDF

Full title and description

ISO/IEC 19756:2011 — Information technology — Topic Maps — Constraint Language (TMCL). Defines TMCL as a vocabulary for writing Topic Maps schemas that express constraints and validation rules, enabling machine-readable schema definitions and schema-driven tooling.

Abstract

TMCL specifies a constraint language for Topic Maps: a set of topic, association, occurrence and role types identified by Published Subject Identifiers (PSIs). It formalizes validation (when a topic map conforms to a TMCL schema) and provides CTM templates to assist schema authoring. TMCL itself is defined as a Topic Maps vocabulary and does not mandate a separate syntax.

General information

• Status: Published (International Standard, confirmed stage 90.93).
• Publication date: June 2011.
• Publisher: ISO/IEC (joint publication under ISO/IEC JTC 1/SC 34).
• ICS / categories: 35.060 (Information technology — Topic Maps family).
• Edition / version: Edition 1 (2011).
• Number of pages: 33 pages.

Scope

Specifies TMCL as a Topic Maps vocabulary for expressing schema-level constraints and global validation rules applicable to Topic Maps. The standard focuses on definition and semantics of constraint concepts (types, PSIs, validation) and provides CTM templates to make schema authoring practical; it does not specify a new standalone syntax. TMCL is intended to be used alongside the Topic Maps data and interchange standards.

Key topics and requirements

• Definition of TMCL vocabulary: topic, association, occurrence and role constraint types identified by PSIs.
• Formal concept of validation: rules for when a topic map is valid against a TMCL schema.
• Global validation rules that apply independent of individual schemas.
• CTM templates provided to facilitate authoring of TMCL schemas (TMCL itself has no unique syntax).
• Interoperability intent: designed to work with Topic Maps data model, XML and CTM syntaxes and canonicalization standards.

Typical use and users

Used by Topic Maps implementers, tool and platform vendors, metadata architects, information-modeling practitioners and organizations adopting Topic Maps for knowledge representation, information integration and semantic indexing. It supports validators, schema-driven editors, and mappings between topic maps and application data.

Related standards

Part of the Topic Maps family and intended to be used with the Topic Maps data/model and interchange standards (ISO/IEC 13250 series), including the Topic Maps data model (ISO/IEC 13250-2), XML Topic Maps (XTM) syntax and CTM (compact syntax) standards, and canonicalization/reference model parts.

Keywords

TMCL, Topic Maps, constraint language, validation, schema, Published Subject Identifier (PSI), CTM templates, ISO/IEC 19756:2011, metadata, information integration.

FAQ

Q: What is this standard?

A: ISO/IEC 19756:2011 (TMCL) is an international standard that defines a constraint language for Topic Maps, allowing precise, machine-readable schema definitions and validation of topic maps.

Q: What does it cover?

A: It covers the TMCL vocabulary (constraint types, PSIs), the validation concept and global validation rules, and provides CTM templates to help author TMCL schemas; it does not prescribe a unique syntax.

Q: Who typically uses it?

A: Implementers of Topic Maps engines, metadata and ontology engineers, tool vendors building validators or schema-driven editors, and organizations using Topic Maps for knowledge representation and data integration.

Q: Is it current or superseded?

A: Published in June 2011 and maintained as an International Standard (stage: confirmed). For the most current lifecycle or confirmation status, consult the ISO catalogue entry for ISO/IEC 19756:2011.

Q: Is it part of a series?

A: Yes — TMCL is part of the Topic Maps family of standards (ISO/IEC 13250 series) and is intended to be used alongside Topic Maps parts such as the data model, XML/CTM syntaxes, canonicalization and reference-model parts.

Q: What are the key keywords?

A: TMCL, Topic Maps, constraint, validation, schema, PSI, CTM, ISO/IEC 19756.