Re: 3.1 b-h: BEHAVIOR

I like this idea!

Here, load this in your XML client:

-=- crash.xml -=-
<?XML version="1.0"?>
<mydoc>
<crash xml-show="new" xml-actuate="auto" xml-target="crash.xml"/>
</mydoc>
-=- end -=-

Wasn't that fun?

I have a real problem with this level of behavioral specification.  I
understand Len's desire for behavioral buckets, but I think there's a
better way to do that.

By way of reference, and not as a plug, let me talk about DynaText.
In DynaText, the SGML may express relationships between elements, but
no inherent behavior is generated.  The DynaText stylesheet associates
behavior with elements; a function language (including queries) with
element addresses allows specification of target elements for
hyperlinks.  For instance, in a DynaText book of the XML language
spec, the WFCs, VCs, and terms are all links to their definitions.  I
chose, in the stylesheet, to present the semantic relationship as a
new-window hyperlink.

I believe that redirects should be left to HTTP.  For other links, the
*relationship* should certainly be asserted in the XML source, but the
*presentation* of that relationship should be left to the stylesheet.
To again use DynaText as an example, it is a very common practice to
provide alternate views of a book, one with tables and figures
in-line, and another with the tables and figures represented as icons
that are links to a new window containing the table or figure.  With
the current XML-link proposal, this would apparently require two
copies of the source, or a stylesheet override of the source.  If the
stylesheet can override the source, why put the information in the
source at all?  For browsing, a stylesheet will be necessary anyway.

Asserting links and establishing relationships, yes.  Specifying
behavior, no.

-Chris
-- 
Christopher R. Maden                  One Richmond Square
DynaText SIT Technical Support        Providence, RI 02906 USA
Inso Corporation                      +1.401.421.9550 (voice)
Electronic Publishing Solutions       +1.401.521.2030 (facsimile)

Received on Tuesday, 4 March 1997 10:28:48 UTC