xml-dev - RE: Attr+: Integrating attributes and elements

["Arnold, Curt" <Curt.Arnold@hyprotech.com>]

It does have an initial appeal and I do use that type of construct
frequently, but I think it has some problems trying to build it into the
schema language.  If it is done at all, maybe it should really be an
Element-.  One of the key limitations of attributes is the inability to
support structure.  So I'm forced to make a transition to an element when I
need to add structured content, but I can use the attribute form when I
don't have any structured content.  The attribute can represent an element
that in this particular instance has no structured content.

Say, if I have a schema to communicate weather readings that reads something
like:

<reading>
	<location airportCode="IAH" temperature="33"/>
</reading>

If I decided that I needed to add annotation to the temperature, I'd need to
support something like:

<reading>
	<location airportCode="IAH">
		<temperature value="33">
			<note>Readings are delayed by 15 minutes</note>
		</temperature>
	<location>
</reading>

My processing software could be smart enough to support either form.  So if
I didn't have a note to go with the reading I could use the attribute form.

However I'm not sure if I want the schema to have to define the map from the
element form to the attribute form or have the DOM produce a phantom element
for me.


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