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The PWG Process for developing standards is under revision. Quite a bit of work has gone into this, already, with several SM and PSI calls dedicating time to this topic as they both felt the need to crisp up the process in support of their own working group efforts. We have simplified the process and reduced the overall number of steps. At a very high level the PWG process now consists of a period during which 1. Charter and requirements are developed and agreed to (exit via "Formal Approval of the PWG" 2. The Standard is developed via a series of "Working Drafts" usually aimed at a v1.0 of the Standard (unless the Charter is to revise an existing standard in which case the target might be v1.1 or v2.0, for example) 3. A "Candidate Standard" which is indication that the standards development activity has reach a high degree of maturity and an appropriate level for implementation and interop testing. Some vendors may choose to ship implementations based on Candidate Standards. 4. A "Standard" (with an IEEE ISTO "number") which indicates a very stable version has been shown to be interoperable and has gained industry support.   A draft of the updated PWG process is available at <a href="ftp://ftp.pwg.org/pub/pwg/www/chair/pwg-process20-20030217.doc">ftp://ftp.pwg.org/pub/pwg/www/chair/pwg-process20-20030217.doc</a> I invite participation in reviewing an commenting. We may want to add a process diagram similar to what we have in the existing process... I haven't gotten to this. Once the new process is adopted, we will have to decide what to do about items currently in last call and some items which have been assigned ISTO "numbering" w/o having gone through the proper steps (even according to the existing process). All further discussion of this topic will take place at pwg@pwg.org and NOT on the ANNOUNCE list! ---------------------------------------------- Harry Lewis Chairman - ISTO Printer Working Group IBM Printing Systems ----------------------------------------------