RE: Repeat-While vs. Repeat-Until

Thanks Pat. That make sense. Is there any chance of having this restriction
added into the OWL-S documentation to minimize ambiguity?

Craig

-----Original Message-----
From: Pat Hayes [mailto:phayes@ihmc.us]
Sent: Wednesday, May 05, 2004 10:50 AM
To: Craig Schlenoff
Cc: public-sws-ig@w3.org
Subject: Re: Repeat-While vs. Repeat-Until


>Is there any difference in these two constructs as to when the condition is
>evaluated? In particular, I am looking for a construct that will evaluate
>the condition FIRST before the action is even executed one time. It is
>unclear from the documentation when the condition is evaluated for each of
>these constructs.
>
>I understand the difference between the two constructs with respect to
>functionality (repeat-while performs an action while a condition is true,
>repeat-until performs an action until a condition becomes true). I just
>don't understand when the condition is evaluated.

Many years ago, when I used to teach programming, the standard way to
characterize these constructions differed in exactly this way.
Repeat-while tests for the condition, exits if it is false and does
the operation if the condition is true, then loops. Repeat-until does
the operation, tests for the condition, exits if it is true, and
otherwise loops. So while while may never act, until always acts at
least once. I'd recommend this, it is very handy.

Pat Hayes

>Thanks,
>
>Craig
>
>---------------------------------
>Craig Schlenoff
>Mechanical Engineer
>Knowledge Systems Group
>Intelligent Systems Division
>Manufacturing Engineering Laboratory
>National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST)
>100 Bureau Drive, Stop 8230
>Gaithersburg, MD 20899-8230
>Phone: 301-975-3456
>Fax: 301-990-9688
>Email: craig.schlenoff@nist.gov


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Received on Wednesday, 5 May 2004 13:14:22 UTC