xml-dev - Re: XSchema: root element

[rbourret@dvs1.informatik.tu-darmstadt.de (Ron Bourret)]

Chris Maden wrote:
> I would prefer
> 
> Root (Useful | NotUseful) #IMPLIED
> 
> Most DTDs have a number of useful potential roots and a number of
> not-so-useful ones.  By providing a default value one way or the
> other, you force me to override it on a substantial portion of my
> elements.
> 
> Another option is to just say that this is a suggested root:
> 
> Root (Suggested) #IMPLIED
> 
> For DocBook, for instance, there are many elements useful as roots,
> but I might only put Root="Suggested" on <book>'s declaration.

I am leery of IMPLIED in this case.  Authoring software must decide whether to 
show an element as a possible root.  If a document doesn't state its preference, 
the authoring software will make its own decision.  Thus, two editors might 
behave differently when given the same XSchema -- something I don't like.

I think that Simon's (Recommended | Possible | Forbidden) probably does the best 
job here.  That is, there is no technical reason most elements can't be used as 
roots; it's just not always a particularly useful thing.

-- Ron Bourret

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