Action Item: rework 4.1.4 (cf. http://www.w3.org/2007/05/30-i18nits-minutes.html#action06)

Dear all,

I worked on my action item related to the XPath expressions (cf.
http://www.w3.org/2007/05/30-i18nits-minutes.html#action06).

Please find my suggestions below. 

Please note that the suggested text contains an empty slot for which I need
some input:

- related to XPath Best Practices/Tutorial

A paragraph which may need a better or additional examples:

- related to obfuscation (the example pertains to a change we did during the
F2F)

I look forward to your feedback. 
 
Cheers,
Christian
===

4.1.4 Create your XPath Expressions with Care

ITS uses XPath expressions in several contexts to identify nodes. The most
prominent contexts are selectors, and pointer attributes such as

 <its:translateRule selector="//term" translate="no"/>

or

 <its:locNoteRule locNoteType="description" selector="//msg/data"
locNotePointer="../notes"/>

When writing ITS-related XPath expressions like the one above, the follwing
general dimensions should be considered:

1. ITS XPath expressions pertain to XPath 1.0 or its successor
2. The values of ITS selector attributes are XPath absolute location paths
3. The values of ITS pointer attributes are XPath relative location paths

In environments, where XSL is used to process ITS-related XPath expressions,
it is important to know about the subset of XPath which is termed "XSLT
patterns" (see note in
http://www.w3.org/TR/its/#basic-concepts-selection-global). Using only XSLT
patterns in ITS selector attributes helps to avoid issues which may arise
with respect to the "match" attribute in XSL "template" elements.

In addition to these general dimensions, best practices related to writing
XPath expressions should be taken into account (see <TODO: reference to such
a best practice or a good XPath tutorial>).

The best practice of avoiding obfuscation may for example prompt you to
prefer

 <its:translateRule selector="//@*[ancestor::del]" translate="no"/>"

over

 <its:translateRule selector="//del/descendant-or-self::*/@*"
translate="no"/>
 
===
Christian Lieske
MultiLingual Technology Solutions (MLT)
SAP Language Services (SLS)
SAP Globalization Services
SAP AG
Dietmar-Hopp-Allee 16
D-69190 Walldorf
Germany
T   +49 (62 27) 7 - 6 13 03
F   +49 (62 27) 7 – 2 54 18
christian.lieske@sap.com <blocked::mailto:christian.lieske@sap.com> 
http://www.sap.com <blocked::http://www.sap.com/> 

Sitz der Gesellschaft/Registered Office: Walldorf, Germany

Vorstand/SAP Executive Board: Henning Kagermann (Sprecher/CEO), Léo
Apotheker (stellvertretender Sprecher/Deputy CEO), Werner Brandt, Claus
Heinrich, Gerhard Oswald, Peter Zencke

Vorsitzender des Aufsichtsrats/Chairperson of the SAP Supervisory Board:
Hasso Plattner 

Registergericht/Commercial Register Mannheim No HRB 350269

 

Diese E-Mail kann Betriebs- oder Geschäftsgeheimnisse oder sonstige
vertrauliche Informationen enthalten. Sollten Sie diese E-Mail irrtümlich
erhalten haben, ist Ihnen eine Kenntnisnahme des Inhalts, eine
Vervielfältigung oder Weitergabe der E-Mail ausdrücklich untersagt.

Bitte benachrichtigen Sie uns und vernichten Sie die empfangene E-Mail.
Vielen Dank.

 

This e-mail may contain trade secrets or privileged, undisclosed, or
otherwise confidential information. If you have received this e-mail in
error, you are hereby notified that any review, copying, or distribution of
it is strictly prohibited. Please inform us immediately and destroy the
original transmittal. Thank you for your cooperation.