Dear all,
Below is a set of remarks and possible solutions to improve the RIF Positive Conditions document which were discussed in the February 13, 2007 meeting.

About the syntax of condition language (positive conditions):

• The MOF abstract syntax is better to be in an Abstract Syntax  section(subsection of SYNTAX) in the Positive Conditions document.
• Since the BNF is obtained by instantiating the MOF model, a description of  how classes, properties, roles and associations are translated into BNF, is desirable. Such a description may be placed in the beginning of a  BNF Syntax section (subsection of SYNTAX). Examples in BNF abstract syntax may come here too. Some other consequences of this mapping (MOF2BNF):
•     The (optional) typing of terms will appear in the BNF too.
•     No anonymous variable will be there except if will be defined in the MOF syntax (which is normative one).
•     I guess that different roles will produce different entries in the BNF (different terminals)
• An  XML Syntax section (subsection of SYNTAX) can be created. Two mappings from BNF syntax to the XML syntax can be then placed here (BNF2DTD and BNF2XMLS). These mappings will define how the DTD is created from the BNF and how XML Schema can be created too. Examples in XML syntax can come here too. Another solution is to create XML Schema directly from MOF  which is immediate possible. (MOF2XMLS)
  
• A Datatypes section is desirable. This section will explain which datatypes are allowed and describe them.
• A specific Validation section which includes all kind of validation issues i.e. DTD validation, XML Schema validation, MOF validation.

As a consequence the TOC of the Positive Conditions   document may look like:

1. OVERVIEW
2. SYNTAX
1. Abstract Syntax (containing the MOF and definitions of artifacts there.)
2. BNF Syntax (containing MOF2BNF, examples  and supplementary explanations)
3. XML Syntax (containing BNF2DTD, BNF2XMLS or MOF2XMLS, examples and supplementary explanations)
4. DATATYPES (description of datatypes supported by the language)
5. VALIDATION (containing all kinds of validators and more examples)
3. SEMANTICS
4. ....
   

All the best,
Adrian