RE: Difference between data and metadata

Hi Tony!

> I was with you most of the way, but not all the way to the end. :-)

I believe you got there, in the end :-)

> Along those lines, I'd consider the element names to be metadata 
> when they appear in the XSD (for XML schema), 
> but not when they appear on the wire (on the wire they 
> are data for the XML processor, allowing it to separate the pieces of the XML data).

A Schema is entirely meta-data, you could say XML Schema Datatypes are abstract 
meta-data and never appear on the wire,  until you encounter xsi:type ..

> Hmm - not my most articulate description, 
> but maybe I've explained how I see it?

I think the word you were looking for was "authoritative" or maybe "obligation"?

> I definitely (and precisely) agree that /precise/ agreement isn't easy here :-)

bingo!

Paul