- From: Paul Prescod <papresco@calum.csclub.uwaterloo.ca>
- Date: Thu, 07 Nov 1996 23:27:40 -0500
- To: lee@sq.com, W3C-SGML-WG@w3.org
At 04:01 PM 11/7/96 EST, lee@sq.com wrote: >> The batch processes that I >> used to generate the Shakespeare and Religion collections are actually >> much closer in spirit to the problem domain that XML is primarily >> designed to address than anything having to do with native authoring. > >In that case, the problem needed to be stated more clearly, I think. >Or mayby I am the only one who thought that the intent was to attract >people (and programmers) who do not today use SGML, and for applications >for which neither HTML nor SGML is used today? Mass delivery of large documents IS something that neither HTML nor SGML is used for today. I'm pretty sure I can't acess Jon's Shakespeare collection over the Web without downloading new, complex software (unless he is serving them through DynaWeb, which is not affordable for many of us). If we could easily create print and online versions of annual reports, manuals, etc., we _would_ be able to attract people and programmers who do not today use SGML. >> I will repeat the point that I want to make sure doesn't get lost >> here: the XML spec does not favor HTML legacy data over SGML legacy >> data; quite the contrary. > >In that case, you can delete this silly empty element nonsense. >Neither Netscape nor Microsoft will stop adding EMPTY elements just >because some hastily-designed SGML database report writing language >has a wired-in list of EMPTY elements. Again, the goal isn't to support HTML "du jour", but provide a smooth migration path from HTML to XML for the short term. People will convert their HTML documents into Extended-HTML (HTML plus their own tags) while they wait for robust XML support, and then turn their XHTML into XML when HTML-only browsers are a bad memory. Paul Prescod --- Boycott Shell Oil worldwide! http://www.web.apc.org/embargo/shell.htm "Shell is here on trial and it is as well that it is represented by counsel said to be holding a watching brief."..."The ecological war that the Company has waged in the Delta will be called to question sooner than later." -Ken Saro-Wiwa to the tribunal that later executed him. http://www.goldmanprize.org/goldman/ken.html
Received on Thursday, 7 November 1996 23:26:00 UTC