Overview
ISO 22938:2017 - Document management - Electronic content/document management (CDM) data interchange format - defines a standardized, XML‑based interchange format and packaging model for CDM data and associated resources. The standard specifies an XML Schema (XSD) model for representing collections, documents, metadata (index values), renditions and resources, and requires ZIP‑based Open Packaging Convention (OPC) packaging so XML, content and resources are exchanged as a single, addressable package. The goal is reliable, reversible exchange of CDM data between diverse systems without forcing proprietary conversions.
Key topics and technical requirements
- XML-based interchange model: A common XML schema (XSD) describes the structure and semantics for CDM interchange, including the root element cdm_interchange and child elements such as cdm_collection, cdm_doc, index_set, doc_content, rendition, content, rsrc_data, and annotations.
- OPC packaging (ISO/IEC 29500-2): Packages must follow the Open Packaging Convention to group XML, content and resources. Required OPC parts include /metadata.xml and a Relationships part (/_rels/.rels) linking the package to the CDM metadata.
- Renditions and resources: Rendition elements support multiple access methods (Base64, URI, MIME), encoding and optional compression. When using OPC packaging, URI must be used and the encoding set to the relative URI within the package (RFC 3986 rules).
- Indexing and metadata model: index_set, index_field and index_record provide structured metadata for collections and documents; index fields include attributes like index_name, index_description and index_content.
- Interoperability principles: The format is intentionally extensible (XML) to allow implementers to adapt or extend the schema without losing the ability to reconstruct original data.
- Content-type mapping: OPC Content Types must be included per ISO/IEC 29500-2 to identify file types; use IANA‑registered MIME types is recommended.
Practical applications
- System migration: export/import of documents and metadata between CDM/EDMS products during upgrades or vendor changes.
- Enterprise consolidation: merge disparate CDM systems after mergers, acquisitions or restructurings.
- Long‑term preservation and archival transfer: package renditions and supporting resources for records management or archival ingestion.
- Integration and exchange: enable external workflows, automated document exchange, or third‑party processing without format loss.
Who should use this standard
- CDM/EDMS vendors and implementers
- Solution architects, system integrators and software developers working on document interchange
- Records managers, archivists and compliance officers planning migrations or archival transfers
- IT teams responsible for enterprise content consolidation or system interoperability
Related standards
- ISO/IEC 29500-2 (Open Packaging Convention / OPC)
- RFC 3986 (URI Generic Syntax)
- W3C XML standards (XML, XSD)
Keywords: ISO 22938:2017, CDM data interchange format, document management, XML, OPC, Open Packaging Convention, metadata, renditions, interoperability.
Open preview (PDF)Document management — Electronic content/document management (CDM) data interchange format
