Specification and Description Language - Common interchange format for SDL-2010

Abstract

Recommendation ITU-T Z.106 defines the common interchange format of Specification and Description Language (SDL‑CIF). The SDL‑CIF is intended for the interchange of graphical SDL-2010 specifications (SDL‑GR) made on different tools that do not use the same storage format. Prior to the definition of SDL‑CIF, the textual phrase representation of SDL-2010 (SDL‑PR) was used to interchange specifications with the disadvantage that all graphical information was lost, making the same specifications often look very dissimilar in different environments. With the SDL‑CIF, this disadvantage is reduced to a minimum, as it contains most of the graphical information. The SDL‑CIF improves the independence from specific tool vendors and allows standards bodies to accept specifications in SDL‑CIF irrespective of the tool they use for their internal work. This also improves productivity by allowing specifications to be made on the accustomed tool. All SDL‑2010 tool vendors are encouraged to provide facilities for importing and exporting SDL‑CIF.