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Looks like data dictionaries are making a comeback. Seem very useful
to me. I don't recall seeing a rule that said if one has an xml
schema one can't also have a matching data dictionary, or vice versa.
Ciao,
Rex
At 1:56 PM -0500 5/2/04, Bullard, Claude L (Len) wrote:
>It was the IDEs and the position that if the code validated the
>file, who needed a data dictionary? Just had that discussion
>with a programmer and his manager last week. The programmer
>considers it just a document to show a customer. Our certification
>chief has other ideas. Our manager thinks it is the best way
>to keep lots of independent minded, IDE equipped staff in line.
>
>len
>
>
>From: Michael Kay [mailto:michael.h.kay@ntlworld.com]
>
>> Worse, the "data dictionary" fad was heavily in force
>> in those days and even the vaguely meaningful "LYNR" was being
>> replaced by indecipherable crud like "A0942B"...
>
>I'm surprised at this perception. My recollection is that when data
>dictionaries were popular, everyone knew they had to call it
>"LAST_YEARS_NET_REVENUE" rather than every programmer making up their own
>cryptic abbreviation; what's more, every screen that it appeared on used the
>same validation rules. I've always felt that the data dictionary was one of
>the good ideas of the 1980s that we've lost. An XML Schema is a partial
>substitute, but a very poor one.
>
>Perhaps it's another European idea that never really caught on in the
>States. Certainly, it was the advent of the RDBMS that caused its demise.
>
>Michael Kay
>
>
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--
Rex Brooks
GeoAddress: 1361-A Addison, Berkeley, CA, 94702 USA, Earth
W3Address: http://www.starbourne.com
Email: rexb@starbourne.com
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