At the recent XBRL International nference in first draft of its Abstract Model , developed by its Abstract Modelling Task Force (AMTF). The abstract model is meant to establish a mmon framework for mmunicating and understanding the XBRL technology.

The abstract model should be of particular interest to software engineers, who are looking for a mmon language to mmunicate and understand the XBRL technology, the nsortium said. The task force developed the abstract model to give developers a strong foundation for implementing XBRL solutions. The Abstract Model includes use case diagrams, class diagrams, object diagrams, and sequence diagrams. The draft model represents an important element the strategic re vision developed by the XBRL Standards Board to ntinue the momentum of the XBRL standard

nor O’Kelly, chairman of XBRL International Standards Board, said the task force welmes market feedback on the abstract model to help assure it will increase mparability, make XBRL easier to use, and lower barriers to XBRL software development. The working draft represents a meta-model for XBRL 2.1 and Dimensions 1.0, separating the semantics defined in those specifications from their syntactical representation.

In developing the abstract model, the Standards Board envisions it will lead to the production of training materials, the definition of standard API signatures, and the reanization of existing specifications. Ultimately, the goal is to enhance data mparability and develop application profiles.

The task force acknowledges there have been significant advancements lately in other modules related to the re XBRL 2.1 and Dimensions 1.0 specifications. Specifications such as formulae, rendering, and versioning have all added substantial features and capabilities on of the two existing re specficiations, the task force said.

The spe of this modeling project, however, was defined at the outset to be inclusive of only the XBRL 2.1 and Dimensions 1.0 specifications, the task force notes. As such, the task force “has been respectful of this spe boundary, and has thus been careful to ensure that all nstructs in the abstract model are traceable back to either the XBRL 2.1 or Dimensions 1.0 specifications,″ it says.

In addition to publishing the working draft, XBRL International also is looking for a few good candidates to assume a leadership role as chair of the Abstract Modeling Task Force. The new chair will oversee mments and revisions to the working draft of the Abstract Model and will guide the nsortium in leveraging the output of the group both internally and in the marketplace. The inming chair also will advise the Standards Board on future model development.