Re: can we have last() having a consistent value ?

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Norman Walsh writes:

> I think all of the following proposals are entirely rational and none
> of them lead to destruction:
>
> 1. Set last() = position() and explain to users that that's the way
>    it works in V1.

I'm a bit unhappy with this, because as Richard observed way back, it
means last()=position() will be true when it shouldn't.

> 2. Set last() = MAXINT and explain to users that that's the way
>    it works in V1.

This avoids the above-noted problem with (1).

> 3. If the pipeline author uses last() then the step has to buffer
>    and give the right answer. If that causes a resource error in the
>    implementation (out of memory, for example), so be it.

As stated before, I _really_ don't want implementations to have to
peer into XPaths, so I _really_ don't like this.

So, I prefer (2), can (just) live with (1), really don't want (3).

ht
- -- 
 Henry S. Thompson, HCRC Language Technology Group, University of Edinburgh
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Received on Wednesday, 6 June 2007 09:53:26 UTC