[XForms 1.1] Questioning the iteration of certain actions (section 10.15)

To Whom It May Concern:

The XForms 1.1 Actions Module[0] supports iterated actions using the `while` attribute.  This attribute is allowed on any action element, but it seems that it is only useful on a subset of the possible action elements.  The `xf:message`[1] action "encapsulates a message to be displayed to the user"; it does not change the model, and so the `while` expression will remain true after each display of the message, causing an infinite loop.  It also might not make sense to allow the `while` attribute on the `xf:setfocus`, `xf:load`, `xf:rebuild`, `xf:recalculate`, `xf:refresh`, or `xf:revalidate` actions for essentially the same reason as in the case of `xf:message`, but I am less sure of those cases.

Should the specification disallow the use of the `while` attribute in these problematic cases?  If not, in what way is iteration useful in these cases?

Thank you for your consideration.

Sincerely,

    John L. Clark

[0] http://www.w3.org/TR/xforms11/#action

[1] http://www.w3.org/TR/xforms11/#action-message




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