In this paper we discuss an XML Schema design approach for developing Book-on-Demand applications. We consider the Book-on-Demand (BoD) process and discuss an implementation of it as an XML application. Our starting point is an analysis of the BoD process. As evaluation result of today's BoD technology, we propose an up to date BoD workflow model. The presented model enables the user to produce his or her personal book out of a structured information base, which is for instance provided by a publisher website. Within the production workflow, the user is allowed to select parts of relevant documents, to structure them by his own purpose, to determine a layout of his choice and forward the resulting new document to a Print-on-Demand Provider.

We review an XML-based approach for technical implementation of the presented BoD workflow model. With regard to the importance of the PDF format for the publishing and printing industry, we include a short discussion about an alternative approach which is based on an underlying PDF document information base.

The XML approach requires an appropriate XML Document Type Definition (DTD) or in view of more automatic processing an XML Schema. XML Schema provides new opportunities for Book-on-Demand applications, in particular it directly supports subtler content management methods for individual user requirements. The paper illustrates how to use and implement these capabilities.