Re: [xml-dev] RE: Abstraction in Science, Mathematics, Software, and Mar

[Stephen D Green <stephengreenubl@gmail.com>]

Are you suggesting or even hinting that it should be possible
to define a type whose contents are types rather than elements?

e.g something like this should be possible

  <xsd:complexType name="appliance-type">
        <xsd:sequence>
            <xsd:complexType ref="model-number-type" />
            ...
        </xsd:sequence>
    </xsd:complexType>

or

  <xsd:complexType name="appliance-type">
        <xsd:sequence>
            <xsd:type ref="model-number-type" />
            ...
        </xsd:sequence>
    </xsd:complexType>

----
Stephen D Green



On 11 March 2011 20:55, Costello, Roger L. <costello@mitre.org> wrote:
> Hi Folks,
>
> Is there a difference between abstraction and reuse?
>
> Suppose I observe that all appliances have a model number, a description, and a warranty. Subsequently I create this complexType:
>
>    <xsd:complexType name="appliance">
>        <xsd:sequence>
>            <xsd:element name="model-number" type="xsd:ID"/>
>            <xsd:element name="description" type="xsd:string"/>
>            <xsd:element name="warranty" type="xsd:string"/>
>        </xsd:sequence>
>    </xsd:complexType>
>
> Is that complexType an abstraction?
>
> It is clearly a reusable thing. But I am not convinced that it is an abstraction because it is hardcoded to specific element names. What do you think?
>
> Do you think that we (the XML community) have powerful mechanisms for creating abstractions? If not, what is missing? If yes, please provide an example of a powerful abstraction that you have created or you have seen created. What makes it powerful?
>
> /Roger
>
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