This SGML Open Technical Resolution defines an Exchange subset of the full CALS table model DTD described in SGML Open Technical Memorandum TM 9502:1995. This Exchange subset has been chosen as being a useful subset of the complete CALS table model such that, if an application's tables are tagged according to this subset, there is a high probability that the table will be interoperable among the great majority of SGML Open vendor products. See also the SGML Open Technical Research Paper TRP 9501:1995 on Table Interoperability: Issues for the CALS table model.

Note that the set of element and attribute declarations in the markup declaration module section of this document partially defines the Exchange table model. However, the model is not well-defined without the accompanying natural language description of the semantics (meanings) of these various elements, attributes, and attribute values. The semantic writeup, in the section following that containing the markup declaration module, must be used in conjunction with the element and attribute declarations.