Re: XML Schema issues resolution

Here's the situation:

LC-55:
  You have advanced a number of complex inter-dependent suggestions
regarding namespaces and prefix interpretation.  I can summarize the
responses you've received as

  1) The XMLSchema-datatype namespace is for semantical reference,
  e.g. from RDF-Schema, not for use in instance documents: for that,
  use the XMLSchema namespace;

  2) The use of QNames in attribute values in XML Schemas is coherent
  if and only if they are really QNames, not something
  similar-but-different.

The WG considered both these points at some length, and in each case
concluded that change in either case would have far-reaching and
disruptive impact on the design.

LC-89:
  You observed that there was no way for an instance, as opposed to a
schema, to appropriate a schema with no target namespace for use in
validation of elements (and attributes) with qualified names.  You
offered XHTML as an example of the burden this would impose.  The
response you received acknowledged the fact that an additional schema
would be required.

I would further observe that
 a) Requiring a second schema is consistent with the WG's commitment
that schema authors take responsibility for the namespaces their
schemas are applied to:  someone writing

  <schema xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/XMLSchema"
          targetNamespace="http://www.example.com/PurchaseOrder">
    <include schemaLocation="http://www.example.com/Schemas/UtilityTypes.xsd"/>
    . . .
  </schema>

has made explicit that they are repurposing the definitions in
UtilityTypes for the .../PurchaseOrder namespace.  The WG does not
wish to remove this modest degree of accountability.

 b) The XHTML example does not go through.  It's not XHTML if it's not
in the XHTML namespace [1].


--------------------------

If you so desire, you will be recorded as unsatisfied with the WG's
response to either or both of the above issues.

ht

[1] http://www.w3.org/TR/xhtml1/#docconf
-- 
  Henry S. Thompson, HCRC Language Technology Group, University of Edinburgh
          W3C Fellow 1999--2001, part-time member of W3C Team
     2 Buccleuch Place, Edinburgh EH8 9LW, SCOTLAND -- (44) 131 650-4440
	    Fax: (44) 131 650-4587, e-mail: ht@cogsci.ed.ac.uk
		     URL: http://www.ltg.ed.ac.uk/~ht/

Received on Wednesday, 13 September 2000 11:30:01 UTC