- From: len bullard <cbullard@hiwaay.net>
- Date: Sat, 21 Jun 1997 10:14:49 -0500
- To: w3c-sgml-wg@w3.org
Weichel Bernhard (K3/EES4) wrote: > >David G. Durand wrote: > >> > >> the harders thing about learning PEs is that the string > >> substitution model is _not_ correct. > > > >Please explain this. String substitution is > >precisely what they appear to be. So, I am missing > >something and wish tutoring. > > Try this small document with nsgmls. It should work > if PEs are pure string substitution. But it does > not work... Right. PEs have to respect boundaries, so they are not in fact, pure string substitution in terms of a search and replace command. I wouldn't want to use PEs that didn't respect the boundaries because it is all too probable someone (me) will trash the DTD. But neither are they classifying mechanisms semantically. They *group* in the same way a well-behaved string substitution does. Again, if PEs can be added and keep to the goals if not requirements for XML developers, that is good. If that is done to get TEI/DocBook on the Web, good for those who use it. My experience is very large and very complex DTDs are the principal barrier to the acceptance of SGML. I think those that promote them in XML should be very aware of that and be prepared to put a lot of effort into overcoming the resistance. Many shops will be better served by subsets of these that are simpler to understand. len
Received on Saturday, 21 June 1997 11:15:11 UTC