ClaML: A standard for the electronic publication of classification coding schemes

This paper proposes a number of revisions to CEN/TS 14463 (ClaML), which is a pre-standard mark-up language for the electronic publication of classification coding schemes. A CEN Taskforce in close collaboration with the WHO network carefully analysed 70 classifications from the healthcare domain. All were transformed in ClaML using a dedicated classification management tool. The proposal removes all formatting elements and adds a number of layout structuring elements. Several elements have been replaced by attributes to enforce internal consistency. A modest number of extensions are proposed to help users and authors in maintenance and version control. A pilot implementation has shown that ICD10 as one of the most complex traditional classifications can be adequately represented to produce quality printed output.