[net.lang] ISO ASN.1, CCITT X.409, description languages

pac@munsell.UUCP (Paul Czarnecki) (10/27/86)

ASN.1 stands for Abstract Syntax Notation.  X.409 is the "Presenation
Transfer Syntax and Notation" for "Message Handling Systems" They are
described in ISO/DIS 8824 and COM VII-283-E (or is it X3T55/84-330)
respectively.

Both are similiar specifications for describing formatted data.  For
example in X.409...

PersonnelRecord ::= [APPLICATION 0] IMPLICIT SET {
	Name,
	title[0] 1A5String,
	EmployeeNumber,
	dateOfHire [1] Date,
	nameOfSpouse[2] Name,
	[3] IMPLICIT SEQUENCE OF ChildInformation DEFAULT {} }

ChildInformation ::= SET {
	Name,
	dateofBirth[0] Date}

and so on...

What I'd like to know if anybody out there know of PD (or cheap)
software that parses this stuff.  Has anybody out there used it (the
software or the syntax)?  Is there a mailing list?  Is this the right
news group?

Any help would be appreciated.


					pZ
-- 
			    Paul Czarnecki -- Eikonix, Corp. -- Bedford, MA
	{{harvard,ll-xn}!adelie,{decvax,allegra,talcott}!encore}!munsell!pz
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