Re: [xml-dev] XLINK support in browsers

["M. David Peterson" <m.david.x2x2x@gmail.com>]

Without speaking to the exact details of the project (part of it will
be released with RC2 of Saxon.NET in the next couple of day,
w/full-source of the sample included) I can state that I  have been
running test after test after test of using XPath 2.0 and XQuery 1.0
as the "link" system for a document which gives both the author and
the reader full access to every portion  of a document from the
outside in, inside out, outside overside, overside, underside, and
every where else from top to bottom.  Obviously using even XPath 1.0
you can create dynamic links based on search phrases or relationship
to other pieces of a document.  And using Saxon or Saxon.NET and
various combinations of file/document access methods you gain detailed
access to just the bit of text it is that you want to display as a
preview to the location the reader will go if clicked -- or better
yet, dont make them go anywhere.  Just render the sentence or two you
are refering to in-line by adding a span element to the DOM in that
position with display set to "inline" and onclick set to "this.display
= 'none'" (you could just as easily delete it from the DOM as well) --
all these options, whatever will you do with all these options? --)

I know there are about 40 of you about to pounce the keyboard with the
statement "but what about when the document changes and each element
shifts positions by x" or "what happens when half the document has
been deleted, like in a blog entry or better yet a WIki entry thats in
a constant state of flux" "now your XPath has to be recreated each and
every time... (fold arms, lean back in chair, stair at screen as you
watch the email disappear and a smirk appear as you state "these kids
think they know everything and dont even realize how flawed their
statements are even after I correct them...", now do the nose snuff
laugh.. good. dont you feel better now?)

The answer: its not as hard as you think and in fact via some
knowledge passed to me via Bruce D'Arcus this morning regarding the
eXist database this project gained a good 10-15 times more features in
one explanation of how this database generally works -- and, no, this
isnt how the changed document thing is fixed... but your close :)

More Real Soon Now ;)  In the mean time munch on this -- How much
longer before XPath 2.0 and XQuery 1.0 simply replace the URI for all
intents and purposes?  What do we need hardcoded paths for when we can
have OH SO MUCH MORE and then some with an XPath 2.0 and XQuery 1.0
aware web server?  A lot of you guys created these technologies so I
know Im not the first to think about this -- which makes me wonder how
much stuff is under wraps that will lend even more to this idea over
the next year.  My guess would be something quite substantial

BTW... If you respond with a 15 page dissertation on why I am an idiot
and I then don't respond, dont think its because Ive gone soft in my
old age (33 last month!) or I simply have lost my love for you  -- Im
right in the middle of deliverying three different delivery schedules
and if I dont turn off all access the world has to me and I to it I
will never get done -- Dont worry though, the loves still here....
youll get a response... but more than likely the response will come in
form of a working code base of full blown solutions, which is what I
plan  to replace all of my standard smart mouth comments with -- Code,
Code, and more Code... Its ALL about the CODE!!! :) (: I might hang on
to one, maybe two smart mouth comments... but the rests gettin'
replaced by CODE :)

Cheers :)  Oh, one last thing -- its just amazing to me what you can
do with Saxon.  Something I gain a stronger understanding to each and
every day  :)  That Michael Kay... he's a smart one I tell ya ;)


On Apr 3, 2005 12:31 PM, Michael Kay <mike@saxonica.com> wrote:
> > You're an author, who has zero control over
> > presentation, beyond using tags. ... How do you get "your own attributes
> for
> > defining relationships" if you don't have control over your schema?
> 
> Sorry, I missed this part of the question. I thought I was the document
> designer. If I'm just a document author and someone else has designed the
> schema, then I do what I'm told.
> 
> Michael Kay
> http://www.saxonica.com/
> 
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-- 
<M:D/>

:: M. David Peterson ::
XML & XML Transformations, C#, .NET, and Functional Languages Specialist