February 11, 2003 -- In a major step to promote interoperability of printing management and e-commerce systems, the PrintTalk organization has published a new XML "schema" designed to enable developers to test communications using standard XML tools. Interoperability among various products is seen as a key to the future of the printing industry and the companies that support it. The new schema complements the previously released PrintTalk specification and will greatly simplify its adoption throughout the industry. "This new tool provides a formal way to express syntax, structure and value constraints when implementing the PrintTalk specification," said PrintTalk Chairman Jim Mekis. Mekis said requests for such a schema had come from both PrintTalk members and other industry constituents who are developing PrintTalk/JDF compliant software. The schema is an XML document into which users can insert their own variables and other inputs. Along with the latest release of the PrintTalk specification, the schema is available for free downloading at www.printtalk.org. "The release of this schema represents a significant milestone for PrintTalk and leading companies in the printing industry who are implementing PrintTalk and JDF," said Mekis. "A schema makes it much easier for developers to test communications using standard XML tools." Dennis McGarry, Vice President of Manufacturer Programs at the Document Management Industries Association, said that "DMIA’s XML group recognized that many of our members needed the ability to communicate between the systems used by distributors and manufacturers. PrintTalk provides this interoperability in a standards-based language that can be used by the entire industry." He added that DMIA encourages its members to require PrintTalk and JDF capabilities in the systems they purchase. According to Nic Greco, Vice President of Printegra and a DMIA representative to PrintTalk, "DMIA intends to provide support and assist in the propagation of PrintTalk as the means to improve efficiency and profitability in our industry." PrintTalk is a community formed by print management systems and e-commerce companies to define a "best practice" common and open communications interface between their products. The following companies are current members of PrintTalk: Document Management Industries Association; Fuji Photo Film U.S.A.; Graphic Arts IT; Heidelberg USA; httprint; Mekis Associates; Noosh, Inc.; Pace Systems Group, Inc.; Parsec Corporation; Printable Technologies; Printers Software, Inc.; Prism-USA; PROFIT Control Systems, Inc.; Streamline Solutions, and TripleArc Limited. Additional information is available at www.printtalk.org.