Creating Markup : Exploring the concept of users defining syntax

Abstract: A variety of markup languages exist for formatting text and exporting to HTML. These languages are tailored to the needs in a specific context by specialising tags, selecting tags and limiting the number of possible distinctions to a subset of what is available in HTML. However, limiting the number of possible distinctions creates problems when changes occur in the context. The real world is ever-changing, thus that which models it must be able to reflect the changes in the operational environment to remain relevant and satisfactory. Incorporating new requirements and adjusting to the changes in requirements means adapting and evolving. This thesis explores giving document authors the possibility to extend and modify the repertoire of available markup tags when new user requirements demand it. What is presented is a prototype which allows the user to tailor the markup and also adapt it to changes in the environment. The system allows users to create their own set of markup tags, annotate their documents with them, and export a generated XML document. Users create the tag and assign a meaning to it, when changes occur in the requirements they can be implemented by modifying the tags, extending the repertoire by adding tags, or changing the meaning of a defined tag.