This chapter describes the definition file used to define a SSA-NAME3 Service Group. This file is known as a Service Group Definition file.

The Service Group contains all of the SSA-NAME3 Services and Algorithms to be used by a system and makes them available to the calling Applications. Services can be loosely thought of as "functions" and Algorithms can be loosely thought of as "parameters" for those functions.

Although it is normal to have only one Service Group definition for an SSA-NAME3 implementation, it is sometimes a good idea to have multiple definitions. One example where multiple Service Group definitions might be beneficial is when a system is being internationalized, that is where one system is being rolled out to many countries and requires different country Algorithms for each country.