xml-dev - Re: xml style questions

[Marcus Carr <mrc@allette.com.au>]

Mark D. Anderson wrote:

> any words of wisdom regarding:
>
> 1) having an extra collection layer in the xml tree, like
> <root><things><thing></thing><thing></thing></things><another></another></root>
> vs.
> <root>><thing></thing><thing></thing><another></another></root>

Would you consider <thing> and <another> to be siblings? If so, I wouldn't compartmentalise.
Alternatively, if <thing> can appear after <another> but these have different significance, I
would compartmentalise.

> 2) having PCDATA vs. having a distinct "comment" or "description" element child:
> <thing a="1" b="2">
> this is the description of this thing
> <some_child></some_child>
> </thing>
> vs.
> <thing a="1" b="2">
> <desc>this is the description of this thing</desc>
> <some_child></some_child>
> </thing>

If you are going to have a need to deal with <desc> in some way and it could get mixed up with
other #PCDATA, I'd create an element. My instinct would be to mark it up as an element unless
the overhead was excessive, but I think that sort of thing is driven by (a) immediate or
forseeable requirements, followed by (b) personal taste.


--
Regards,

Marcus Carr                      email:  mrc@allette.com.au
___________________________________________________________________
Allette Systems (Australia)      www:    http://www.allette.com.au
___________________________________________________________________
"Everything should be made as simple as possible, but not simpler."
       - Einstein



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