Re: Standardise method for selecting extensions for DESCRIBE

Hi Peter,

This was a feature I'd like to have seen in the language too. I
submitted it as a proposed feature during the requirements gathering
process. More detail here:

http://www.w3.org/2009/sparql/wiki/Feature:ControlOfDescribeQueries

But as far as I'm aware its not been selected for standardisation as
part of SPARQL 1.1

L.

On 22 June 2010 23:02, Peter Ansell <ansell.peter@gmail.com> wrote:
> Hi,
>
> It would be nice with the SPARQL review if there could be a minor
> change to the DESCRIBE query syntax to support optional selection of
> the way DESCRIBE should work.
>
> For example, even if I know that my SPARQL endpoint supports different
> types of DESCRIBE queries, such as Concise Bounded Description [1] and
> Symmetric Concise Bounded Description and basic Subject Predicate
> Object (with or without inferences), there is no standard way of
> telling a DESCRIBE query to use one over the other.
>
> A syntax may be "DESCRIBE [USING <METHODURI>] <URI>" or any other way
> that is substantially backwards compatible. The METHODURIs for some
> common methods could be suggested, with any new methods being easily
> extensible using URIs that anyone else publishes.
>
> This wouldn't change the best guess approach that was originally
> standardised for DESCRIBE, but it would give a user some standard way
> of selecting their preferred DESCRIBE method in some cases.
>
> Virtuoso currently offer this ability using SQL define commands
> attached to the front of a SPARQL query [2].
>
> Personally I never use SPARQL DESCRIBE because I have no way of
> knowing which method is going to be used, and I don't want to be
> flooded with triples if the method is Symmetric Concise Bounded
> Description for instance, and the URI is in the object position of a
> large number of statements that are not relevant to me right now. It
> would nice to be able to get the ability to discover Blank Nodes in an
> Asymetric way, as you can't iteratively find Blank Nodes using the
> results of past queries that you can do if all subjects and objects
> are URIs.
>
> Even if this feature doesn't get through, it would be nice to have the
> DESCRIBE query method as a required element the SPARQL Service
> Description so I could at least identify the method that would be used
> by default for an endpoint.
>
> Sorry if this feature has been brought up before. I couldn't find it
> with my searching.
>
> Thanks,
>
> Peter
>
> [1] http://www.w3.org/Submission/CBD/
> [2] http://docs.openlinksw.com/virtuoso/rdfsparql.html#rdfsqlfromsparqldescribe
>
>
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-- 
Leigh Dodds
Programme Manager, Talis Platform
Talis
leigh.dodds@talis.com
http://www.talis.com

Received on Wednesday, 23 June 2010 23:58:40 UTC