RFC 1685 (rfc1685) - Page 2 of 11
Writing X
Alternative Format: Original Text Document
RFC 1685 Writing X.400 O/R Names August 1994
3. Copy of the recommmendation
This is a COPY of a DRAFT of the relevant appendix. For the
authoritative text, consult the ITU standard itself.
Final text for AMENDMENT, 7 February 1993
Annex to CCITT Rec. F.401 and ISO/IEC 10021-2/Am.1
Annex F
Representation of O/R addresses for human usage (This annex does
not form an integral part of this Recommendation|International
Standard)
F.1 Purpose
An O/R address (specified in clause 18) consists of a set of
values of attributes taken from the list shown in Table F.1. In
order to represent visually an address to a human user, and to
enable the user to enter the address into a user interface, each
attribute value needs to be associated with the correct attribute
type. Many of the names of the attribute types shown in Table F.1
are too long for convenient usage on paper or a screen. There is a
need for a format which allows attributes to be represented
concisely, e.g., on a business card.
This annex specifies how addresses can be expressed concisely
using labels to represent the attribute types. There are three
categories of attributes: those standard mnemonic attributes which
are most likely to be found in O/R addresses represented for human
usage (e.g., on business cards), those used in physical delivery
addresses, and other specialised attributes (including domain
defined attributes). In order to provide a format which is as
concise as possible, many of the labels are single characters.
This also makes them less language dependent.
Clause F.3 specifies the format for the representation of
addresses, and clause F.4 specifies the characteristics necessary
for user interfaces which are intended to be used in conjunction
with this format.
F.2 Scope
A labelled format for the communication of O/R addresses to human
users is specified. The format consists of a set of pairs of
labels and attribute-values. The characteristics of a user
interface which are necessary to accept addresses given in this
RARE Working Group on Mail and Messaging (WG-MSG)