An open challenge is to integrate XML and conceptual modeling in order to satisfy large-scale enterprise needs. Because enterprises typically have many data sources using different assumptions, formats, and schemas, all expressed in—or soon to be expressed in—XML, it is easy to become lost in an avalanche of XML detail. This creates an opportunity for the conceptual community to provide improved abstractions to help manage this detail. We present a vision for Conceptual XML (C-XML) that builds on the established work of the conceptual modeling community over the last several decades to bring improved modeling capabilities to XML-based development. Building on a framework such as C-XML will enable better management of enterprise-scale data and more rapid development of enterprise applications.
David W. Embley, Stephen W. Liddle, Reema Al-Kamha