Re: rq25 aggregate functions

Thank you.

(why can't I edit it - I was going to insert some details)

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 Andy


On 23/12/2009 18:53, Lee Feigenbaum wrote:
> Yes. Please see http://www.w3.org/2009/sparql/track/issues/53
>
> Lee
>
> Andy Seaborne wrote:
>> Can we raise an ISSUE for this so it does not get lost, please?
>>
>> Andy
>>
>> On 21/12/2009 23:56, Steve Harris wrote:
>>> On 21 Dec 2009, at 18:07, Andy Seaborne wrote:
>>>
>>>> Steve and I were discussing aggregates on IRC: this is for the record
>>>> because we didn't have time to complete the discussion there and then.
>>>>
>>>> What we both want is that
>>>>
>>>> sum(1, unbound) -> 1
>>>>
>>>> sum(1, 2/0) -> error
>>>>
>>>> i.e skip unbounds in the group but return error on bad expressions.
>>>>
>>>> COALESCE does not help because it treats both as the same. And does
>>>> not work for min and max which are multi-datatype.
>>>>
>>>> The key text is:
>>>>
>>>> [[
>>>> Definition: Aggregation
>>>>
>>>> Any unbound values exp · μ' do not appear in the resulting value
>>>> multiset
>>>> ]]
>>>>
>>>> which (my reading) that says evaluate exp on μ' then see if it's
>>>> unbound.
>>>>
>>>> But the single variable case sum(?x) has an expression of ?x so exp ·
>>>> μ' is called on unbound ?x (which is an error) then the test is made
>>>> to see if it's unbound (it's not - it's now error).
>>>>
>>>> We could special-case evaluation of aggregates. If it's a single
>>>> variable, then return value or unbound. If it's any other expression
>>>> (including ?x+0), then evaluate as normal, i.e. error. There are
>>>> otherways for sum (e.g. the value of unbound is always zero) but is
>>>> using the special feature that zero is the identity value for + so
>>>> does not work for other aggregates.
>>>
>>> Another option would be to say that if there are any variables appearing
>>> in exp (other than as an argument to COALESCE) that are unbound in μ',
>>> the result in unbound.
>>>
>>> It's unfortunate for aggregates that eval(?x) for unbound ?x is an
>>> error.
>>>
>>> - Steve
>>>
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>>
>>
>
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Received on Thursday, 24 December 2009 10:18:48 UTC