XForms

Draft

Definition

XForms is an official W3C recommendation for the data processing and presentation of forms.

As opposed to the traditional HTML-based forms, XForms isXML-based and allows for the separation of presentation and content giving developers the ability to reuse forms for multiple platforms and devices (e.g. PDAs, cell phones, etc.). From a W3C XForms press release:

By splitting traditional HTML forms into three parts—XForms model, instance data, and the XForms user interface—XForms cleanly separates presentation from content. This separation brings new advantages:

• Reuse: XForms modules can be reused independently of the information they collect
• Device independence: user interface controls are abstract—that is, their generic features are the only thing indicated—so they can easily be delivered to different devices with different capabilities
• Accessibility: separation of presentation from content leaves information more readily available for users of assistive technologies; in addition, the user interface controls encapsulate all relevant metadata such as labels, thereby enhancing accessibility of the application when using different modalities.

Software

XForms processors

Currently the XForms standard is not supported by any browser natively, though plugins exist for Windows Internet Explorer and Firefox 2.0 KBenetos 11:24, 30 January 2007 (MET) has not yet tested any of these plugins.

For further information on software support see for example Wikipedia's XForms article.

Here is an unsorted and really not representative list of some software:

Browser extensions:

• Firefox XForms extension
• formsPlayer for IE6+

Pure (portable) JavaScript processors:

• FormFaces

Flash-based processors:

• DENG Modular XBrowser

Other languages:

• OpenOffice.org seems to have support

Other things

E.g. generators, filters, server-side technologies

• Orbeon Form Builder
• Chiba

Links

XForms engines

• XForms in Firefox - a good intro to XForms and tutorial on installing and using XForms with Firefox.

Standards and bodies

• The Forms Working Group at W3C
• XForms 1.0. Latest edition. The third edition was published in oct. 2007.
• XForms Quick Reference
• Official XForms FAQ

Tutorials and Introductions

• XForms for HTML Authors
• Kurt A. Cagle (2007). Understanding XForms, Viewing and creating "Adventure" scenarios, IBM develooperWorks
• XForms Tutorial and Cookbook, a wikibook.
• Introduction to XForms, by Mark Birbeck

News

• The Forms Working Group at W3C
• Planet XForms