SOAP 1.2 LC Issue: Clarification on Use of SOAP Detail Element

I think the current description of the Detail EII in [1] is a leftover
from early days but now comes across as inconsistent with the overall
SOAP 1.2 processing model and the notion of multiple SOAP fault codes
(see also [2]). Our processing model provides a clear model for what a
fault means but the Detail element breaks this into two cases: faults
resulting from header faults and from body faults. This separation is
mediocre at best and has no impact on the processing of a SOAP message.
As a result I suggest that we fix this by removing the distinction
between header and body faults and allow the Detail EII to contain
additional information in either case.

That is, I suggest that we change the current text from [1]: 

"The Detail element information item MUST be present when the contents
of the SOAP Body could not be processed successfully. It MUST NOT be
used to carry error information about any SOAP header blocks. Detailed
error information for SOAP header blocks MUST be carried within the SOAP
header blocks themselves.

The absence of the Detail element information item indicates that a SOAP
Fault is not related to the processing of the SOAP Body . Presence of
the Detail element information item is a signal that the SOAP Body was
at least partially processed by an ultimate SOAP receiver before the
fault occurred.

All child element information items of the Detail element information
item are called detail entries (see 5.4.5.1 SOAP detail entry)."

And instead say:

"The Detail element information item MAY be present in a SOAP fault
carrying additional information relative to the SOAP fault codes
describing the fault (see section X.X). For example, the Detail EII
might contain information about a message not containing the proper
credentials, a timeout, etc. The presence of the Detail EII has no
significance as to which parts of the faulty SOAP message was processed.


All child element information items of the Detail element information
item are called detail entries (see 5.4.5.1 SOAP detail entry)."

Henrik Frystyk Nielsen
mailto:henrikn@microsoft.com

[1]
http://www.w3.org/TR/2002/WD-soap12-part1-20020626/#faultdetailelement
[2] http://lists.w3.org/Archives/Public/xmlp-comments/2002Jul/0062.html

Received on Friday, 19 July 2002 19:28:45 UTC