Re: [xml-dev] How to avoid (minimize) errors due to copying, pasting,and

[Dimitre Novatchev <dnovatchev@gmail.com>]

This is the only known path of knowledge -- by trial and error and
through continuous refinement.

Try to avoid this and there would be no progress.

Cheers,
Dimitre

On Thu, May 17, 2018 at 4:59 AM, Costello, Roger L. <costello@mitre.org> wrote:
> Hi Folks,
>
> I am working on a project that has created a large, complex data
> specification. There are tables in the data specification, from which I
> created Schematron rules. The tables specify a bunch of codes. When I
> created the Schematron rules, I accidentally missed some of the codes. I
> discovered this omission only after considerable effort and expense.
>
> It got to thinking about all the other places along the path to creating the
> data specification where data might have accidentally been dropped, altered,
> added, or put in the wrong place. I don't know, but I suspect the data
> specification was produced something like this: several subject matter
> experts jotted down some ideas on a piece of paper and handed it to another
> person who typed up their ideas. [Potential for errors at this step] The
> typed document then goes to a publication office which typesets and
> officially publishes the data specification. [Potential for errors at this
> step] Then, of course people use the data specification in their own
> endeavors, which provides more opportunities where errors may be introduced.
>
> It occurs to me that quite possibly lots of errors are due to simple human
> errors from copying, pasting, transcribing. How to avoid this?
>
> /Roger