A Handbook for Publications Development

4. The Snapshot Process

The Snapshot process is a way to publish the interim results of an activity to develop a standard within The Open Group. It cannot be used for Guides or White Papers. It provides a mechanism for The Open Group to disseminate information on its current direction and thinking to an interested audience, in advance of formal publication of a standard, with a view to soliciting feedback and comment. Snapshot documents have a defined lifetime, usually no more than six (6) months.

A Snapshot document shall include a notice on its cover and in its introduction describing the status as a Snapshot document. An example of the cover notice is given below:

NOTICE

Snapshot documents are draft standards which provide a mechanism for The Open Group to disseminate information on its current direction and thinking to an interested audience, in advance of formal publication, with a view to soliciting feedback and comment.

A Snapshot document represents the interim results of an activity to develop a standard. Although at the time of publication The Open Group intends to progress the activity towards publication of a Preliminary Standard or Standard of The Open Group, The Open Group is a consensus organization, and makes no commitment regarding publication. Similarly, a Snapshot document does not represent any commitment by any member of The Open Group to make any specific products or services available.

This Snapshot document is intended to make public the direction and thinking about the path we are taking in the development of <insert description>. We invite your feedback and guidance. To provide feedback on this Snapshot document, please send comments by email to ogspecs-snapshot-feedback@opengroup.org no later than <date>. This Snapshot document is valid through <date> only.

For information on joining the <applicable Forum>, please visit <url> and click the “Join” button to view a summary of Forum membership benefits and the Membership FAQ.

An example notice for the Introduction section is given below:

This Snapshot document is intended to make public the direction and thinking about <insert description>. We invite your feedback and guidance. To provide feedback on this Snapshot document, please send comments by email to ogspecs-snapshot-feedback@opengroup.org no later than <date>.

The Approvals Process for a Snapshot document is defined in Section 3.3.3 of the Standards Process.

A Snapshot publication is released with no Company Review or formal approval status. The Approvals Process is working body consensus to release as a Snapshot document together with a recommendation from The Open Group Manager and The Open Group Executive Management review and approval.