OpenBrief

OpenBrief is an XML-based, open-specification, cross-software file format for debate briefs. It is designed to be easy to read and make a minimal number of assumptions about the precise internal organization of a given software package's database. Rather than enforcing a particular linkage structure, all relevant data is duplicated for every card, and the software reading the OpenBrief file must interpret it as necessary in its particular case.

Internal structure
OpenBrief briefs consist of two main blocks: a header block and a body block. The header block contains XML tags with information about the brief, and the software that created the brief; the body block contains a list of data entries for the evidence, section headers, and other text that appears in the brief.

Three types of data entries are supported in the body block:


 * Evidence cards: Stores a single evidence card. This  block element contains a variety of other elements, to store the quote, tagline, page number, etc. It also contains a   block element, which contains the elements of the source: article title, URL, access date, etc. The   block element further contains block elements for each of the source's authors. (Notably, the   block contains both the individual elements of the source, and a required one-piece "compiled" version of the source - similar to how it would appear in a printed brief. This is to enhance compatibility between different methods of handling sources.)


 * Section headers: Specifies the name and nesting level for a new section. All the following cards and text entries are assumed to fall into this section, until another section header is encountered.


 * Plain text: Stores plain text (with formatting), for speech content and other customized text between evidence cards.

Usage
The OpenBrief format was originally developed by Daniel Gaskell and Mark Watson as a way to exchange evidence between Factsmith and Blue Book Report. Since the shutdown of Blue Book Report, Factsmith has been the only software to fully support the OpenBrief format. By convention, OpenBrief files have the extension .obf.

The COG sourcebook traditionally provides an optional download consisting of all the briefs from the sourcebook in OpenBrief format.