Re: [xml-dev] [Summary] Should Subject Matter Experts Determine XMLData

[Chin Chee-Kai <cheekai@softml.net>]

Costello, Roger L. wrote:
> I end up with an XML Schema that is independent of any specific
> application. Thus, it supports the unanticipated user.
>
> I don't see data flows, application architecture diagrams, or business
> processes entering into the picture at all.
>   
It's often a misconception that publishing XML Schema and throwing some 
example instances along means the end of making communication totally 
clear and transparent, that opposite end of the transmission line, be it 
user, developer or machine, would know exactly what to fill in, when to 
transmit, what to do on error, which schema or schema sets to use and so 
on.   Your second question makes it clear that precisely due to the lack 
of accompanying documentation on the business and corresponding document 
flow, the electronic counterpart of business process cannot be properly 
established.

Think of taking a bus from home to town.  The bus company just tells you 
"board a huge yellow  vehicle, pay the money, sit down and  wait till 
your destination is near."  But without publishing the time schedules 
(when to transmit), other service line available (which document to 
use),  emergency numbers (what to do on error), and so on, one would 
hardly find the bus company's buses useful.

So, to answer your question more directly, it's not that schema supports 
unanticipated user *and therefore* one doesn't see data flow;  it is 
more like one misses out on specifying the data flow, so one mistakenly 
thinks the schema supports generic unanticipated users.


regards,
Chin Chee-Kai