OMG Specification Tutorial

This page provides information on the terms used in defining the various stages of an OMG specification as it moves through its editing cycles

Note that at this time these terms are different than those used in the OMG Policies and Procedures but are none the less compatible. For example, those that have been accepted as adopted technology under the OMG Bylaws but are still undergoing the final stages of editing are referred to in P&P as Recently Adopted Specifications or Recently Adopted Revisions. OMG specifications that have completed all stages of editing are referred to in P&P as Available Specifications. They represent the formal publication of a specification made available to the general public and embody adopted technology backed by at least one commercially supported implementation. 

A Finalization Task Force (FTF) is chartered to move adopted technology to published specification (either the original version or a revision.) FTF Reports represent editing and minor technical changes to Adopted Submissions which have successfully undergone the OMG technology adoption process. A Draft Adopted Specification is simply a reformatting of that submission by the OMG Technical Editor into the OMG publication style, permitting early implementation. A FTF uses a Final Adopted Specification as its baseline document. Resolution of comments and issues filed against this document are used to produce the FTF Report. A convenience document¹, the Proposed Available Specification, is often produced by the FTF which assists in the evaluation of the FTF Report and preparation of the published specification. Otherwise, in order to obtain the complete specification, the Final Adopted Specification as well as the FTF Report are required. The Available Specification is the published Version x.y of the specification which has completed all editing.

A Revision Task Force (RTF) is chartered to address issues filed against a published specification. The RTF may resolve all issues, or may recommend that a new RFP be issued. RTF Reports are part of the revision process and contain a set of changes or edits that need to be applied to a previously published (available) version of an OMG specification. A RTF uses an Available Specification as its baseline document. Resolution of comments and issues filed against this document are used to produce the RTF Report. A convenience document², the Proposed Available Revision, is often produced which assists in the evaluation of the RTF Report and preparation of the published revision. Otherwise, in order to obtain the complete revised specification, the published specification as well as the RTF Report are required. The Available Specification is the published specification revision which has completed all editing. Revised specifications, where they exist, always supersede the published (existing or available) version of a specification.

The table below summarizes this information.

1 - A change-barred version of the Final Adopted Specification
2 - A change-barred version of the Available Specification