Re: Extend values of type ID

Norman Walsh wrote:
> / Anne van Kesteren <fora@annevankesteren.nl> was heard to say:
> | I'm not sure if this matters to xml:id, but I CC'ed public-xml-id just
> | in case.
> |
> | I was wondering why values of type ID are so limited. They can only
> | start with a letter, ':' or '_' which does not really make sense.
> |
> | Was this perhaps for compatibility with SGML?
> |
> | It would make much more sense, in my humble opinion, to make allow any
> | character as value with a minimum length of 1 character. With the
> | exclusion of some control characters I guess.
> |
> | Would that be possible?
> |
> | PS: If someone replies to the message and does not CC public-xml-id
> | please do CC me.
> 
> The restiction that ID values be XML Names was, I believe, inherited
> From SGML. While it might have been useful to relax that restriction,
> XML did not. The xml:id Specification aims to provide XML ID values
> and, as such, cannot extend the range of values allowed. (Irrespective
> of the fact that this would be a major interoperability probem for XML
> systems.)
> 
> For the purposes of resolving CR comments, please let us know if you
> are unsatisified with this resolution.

I'm ok with the resolution for the xml:id specification.

If possible, I would appreciate it if someone would look into the 
possibilities of extending the allowed characters of the ID type in the 
XML specification though.

Regards,

Anne


-- 
  Anne van Kesteren
  <http://annevankesteren.nl/>

Received on Monday, 13 June 2005 17:48:37 UTC