The XML Bookmark Exchange Language (XBEL)

The XML Bookmark Exchange Language, or XBEL, is an Internet "bookmarks" interchange format. It was designed by the Python XML Special Interest Group on the group's mailing list.

The original intent was to create an interesting, fun project which was both useful and would demonstrate the Python XML processing software which was being developed at the time. Mark Hammond contributed the original idea, and other members of the SIG chimed in to add support for their favorite browser features. After debate which ranged far afield from the original idea, compromises were reached which allow XBEL to be a useful language for describing bookmark data for a range of browsers, including the major browsers and a number of less widely used browsers.

At this time, the formal document type definition (DTD) was finalized and documentation was written. These are available online here.

• The formal DTD
• The documentation

The documentation is also available in non-HTML versions, for those who like to play with leaves:

• Compressed PDF
• Compressed PostScript

Supporting Software

Supporting software is provided as part of the Python XML "omnibus" package. This software is located in the demo/xbel/ directory of the distribution. This includes command-line processes for converting XBEL instances to other common formats, including the Navigator and Internet Explorer formats.

The current release of the Grail Internet browser from CNRI supports XBEL as a native bookmarks format.

Philippe Guglielmetti (goulu@i.am) has created an export template for the Compass bookmarks manager. Look for XBEL.TPL at Philippe's home page.

Available Bookmark Collections

Some notice of XBEL has been made, and collections are starting to become available. We will list those we know of here. If you know of additional collections that should be listed, please send a note to the XML-SIG mailing list.

• SGML/XML Bookmarks -- Norm Walsh's collection of links related to SGML and XML.

• Perl Bookmarks -- Another collection from Norm Walsh, pertaining to the Perl programming language.

• BioNetbook -- Bookmarks related to biology, maintained by the Institut Pasteur. The XBEL version was created by Stephane Bortzmeyer.