IvoaVOQL < IVOA

---+ IVOA Virtual Observatory Query Language (<nop>VOQL) Working Group
__Contents__
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---++ Introduction
_Definition: The IVOA Query Language group will be in charge of defining a universal Query Language to be used by applications accessing distributed data within the Virtual Observatory framework._


---++ Group members and how to join.
Anyone can belong to the IVOA <nop>VOQL Working Group. You can  [[http://www.ivoa.net/forum/][Subscribe to the VOQL mailing list]] and participate in the discussions held in that list. 



---++ <nop>VOQL Technical Experts Group (<nop>VOQL-TEG)
The <nop>VOQL Technical Experts group (<nop>VOQL-TEG) was created in Sep 2006 with the aim of defining the technical specification of the standards, making sure that the proposed solutions both fulfil the user community needs and are technically feasible.
There is a mailing list for this group (voql-teg@ivoa.net). Only members of the <nop>VOQL-TEG can send mails to this list. However, anyone can look at the archived mails for information ([[http://www.ivoa.net/forum/][See forum list]]). 

The <nop>VOQL-TEG holds a monthly meeting where details on the standards, specifications, etc. are discussed. The Minutes of these meetings can be seen in the aforementioned mailing list.


---+++ <nop>VOQL-TEG Members 
The <nop>VOQL-TEG was formed with a member from each of the institutions belonging to the IVOA that had shown technical expertise in the field and who were willing to spend resources in the active participation within the group.

The following is a list of the <nop>VOQL-TEG members together with their affiliation:

   * Alex Szalay                   (NVO)           
   * Francois Ochsenbein           (CDS)
   * Kona Andrews                  (<nop>AstroGrid)
   * Pat Dowler                    (CVO)
   * Yuji Shirasaki                (JVO)
   * Inaki Ortiz                   (ESAVO)
   * Benjamin Gufler               (GAVO)

   * Pedro Osuna                   (IVOA <nop>VOQL Chairman)

The chairman of the Data Access Layer group (Doug Tody) is invited to all the VOQL-TEG meetings (see below details).


---++ New planned structure for the <nop>VOQL group and deliverables.
According to recent discussions, the <nop>VOQL standards structure has been refurbished to clearly show a separation of Language, Protocol and Service. The new structure and the items the <nop>VOQL group will be dealing with are therefore:

1.- The Language.

This will be a refurbishing of the current ADQL able to accomodate different communities' needs. A document _only dealing with the Language specification_ will be produced. 

2.- The Protocol.

This will deal with _how to access data_ using the ADQL language. A new document will be produced for this so called Table Access Protocol (TAP). The chair of the Data Access Layer group is a permanent member of the <nop>VOQL-TEG to co-author the initial creation of this protocol 

3.- The Service.

This will deal with the important issue of _Cross-match_. A new document will be produced for a type of services dealing directly with cross-matching of sources (of whichever type). This work will be initiated within the <nop>VOQL-TEG and evolved in conjunction with other IVOA groups. 

Expected deliveries:

1.- Refurbished ADQL doc in quite a mature state by China 2007 interop.

2.- First draft of the Table Access Protocol (TAP) doc by China 2007 interop.

Further discussions are needed to estimate possible due dates for crossmatch service specification.



---++ Roadmap


| *Action* | *When* | *Who* |
| *                         * |||
| *Astronomical Data Query Language (ADQL)* |||
| Refurbished ADQL Draft | China Interop meeting 2007 | <nop>VOQL-TEG |
| *Table Acces Protocol* |||
| First draft specification | China Interop meeting 2007 | <nop>VOQL-TEG |
| *Cross-match Service* |||
| Create new spec | China Interop meeting 2007 | <nop>VOQL-TEG |


---++ Old Group pages and documents.
The initial pages with the whole set of documents and pointers to meetings, discussions, etc. can be found [[http://www.ivoa.net/twiki/bin/view/IVOA/IvoaVOQLHistoric][here]].

The decision has been taken to start the current Wiki pages from scratch in order to make the separation of the different <nop>VOQL tasks (see above "New planned structure for <nop>VOQL") clearer. 



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Attachments
Topic attachments
I	Attachment	History	Action	Size	Date	Who	Comment
pdf	ADQL-20070126.pdf	r1	manage	143.4 K	2007-02-07 - 14:28	InakiOrtiz	Preliminary draft of the ADQL specification
pdf	ADQL-20070419.pdf	r1	manage	494.0 K	2007-05-03 - 10:58	InakiOrtiz	Draft update
This topic: IVOA > IvoaVOQL
Topic revision: r10 - 2007-05-03 - InakiOrtiz