RE: Argumentation needed - IHE intends to drop XForms in favor of HTML5

Hi,

I'm not an author of the spec, but here's my take:

XHTML is fine as a recommendation for what web-based systems should output.=
 It is problematic, however, as a source format for form interchange:

- Due to reliance on scripting, a form authored in one tool cannot be under=
stood by another tool except on the most basic level (on the other hand, I =
have no experience of compatibility between XForms tools)
- Due to the complexity of the spec, a fully compatible form player cannot =
be implemented in embedded systems less capable than current smartphones, w=
hereas XForms minimum requirements are an order of magnitude smaller (e.g. =
Java-based dumbphone implementations exist, and native implementations coul=
d be used on even less capable devices)

Additionally, if IHE is really going to specify HTML5 as the requirement (r=
ather than just XHTML), one has to question the choice to standardize on a =
spec that is not finished yet (might reach candidate recommendation status =
next year, might not), and for which there are no even close to complete im=
plementations, even for the forms part (see implementation status notes in =
left margin at http://www.whatwg.org/specs/web-apps/current-work/#forms).

That being said, would it be feasible for your client to use XForms only in=
ternally and transcode the XForms into XHTML for interoperability purposes =
(possibly by using EMC Documentum XForms or XSLTForms)?

BR,
     --Oskari

-----Original Message-----
From: [email protected] [mailto:[email protected]] On Behalf =
Of ext Joern Turner
Sent: 30 May, 2011 16:56
To: [email protected]
Subject: Argumentation needed - IHE intends to drop XForms in favor of HTML=
5

Sorry - i missed to give my previous mail a meaningful subject

I repeat my message here hoping the WG will respond to that.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------=
------
i received a call for help from a client being in eHealth: the IHE (Integra=
ting the Healthcare Enterprise) - http://www.ihe.net/  which develops stand=
ards in healthcare is about to remove XForms from their technical framework=
 recommendations. This is the original text i
received:

"With the use of XHTML forms, and with HTML 5 the replaising XHTML 2.0 (whi=
ch was supposed to incorporate XForms, thus providing wide support for the =
technology)  as the next version of HTML, there are practically no implemen=
tations of XForms. Leaving XHTML forms as the only option will signifficant=
ly improve interoperability."

I would be happy if the Working Group would step in and help to argue again=
st this as this means that XForms  must not be used any more in IHE-related=
 projects. This is a real catastrophe for the client and he asked for all t=
he help possible to influence the IHE. I already tried to write something d=
own but i feel that it would be helpful to get a statement from the authors=
 of the spec.

Thanks,

Joern Turner