xml-dev - Re: an unfilled need

["Martin Bryan" <mtbryan@sgml.u-net.com>]

David
> >
> > One of the techniques the XML/EDI community have been propounding
>
> vs proposing?  I'd be curious whether alternative approaches have been
> examined, or what alternative techniques were discussed within the scope
> of this particular approach.

Many alternative approaches have been proposed, some of which include things
like using the database keys as element and attribute names directly.

> > is the use
> > of namespaced attributes to point to semantic specifications using the
XLink
> > mechanism or an application specific mechanism. Basically the namespace
of
> > the attribute points to the rules for interpreting the attribute value
and
> > the value of the attribute points to the definition of the semantics
that
> > are to be applied to the element.
>
> This doesn't require actually trying to fetch information identified by a
> URI.  But it also leaves open the question of which level(s) of semantics
> are tied to the namespaces in question.

Oh so true. This why CEN/ISSS has recently set up a Defining and Managing
Semantics and Datatypes project group to discuss just this issue at a
pan-European level, and to determine what best practices are required.

Martin Bryan
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