Wish for MathML 3: version attribute

Dear W3-Math Group,

here's a wish I came across reading the "todo" list on the MathML 3
specification: A version attribute.

Rationale: MathML 3 will apparently deprecate some elements, such as
maction, and add new elements / attributes. When a user edits MathML,
the software must be able to present her/him with the available options.

While MathML Version is currently detectable through the use of the
correct DTD, DTD are slowly going away in favor of namespaces and
schemata. With a MathML expression only specifying a namespace, it is
impossible to automatically detect the MathML version (unless you are
planning to use a new namespace for MathML 3)


Suggestion:

The <math> element will receive a new attribute "version".

If version is unspecified the DTD definition (if present) is consulted.
If there is no DTD, the content is assumed to be MathML 2 with support
for all deprecated attributes / elements of MathML 1.

A value of version "1" and "2" is theoretically possible, athough only
when there is no DTD specification present.

If version is "3" then the content is MathML 3, supporting deprecated
elements / attributes is optional (and encouraged).





mfG

Max Berger
e-mail: max@berger.name

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