[Bug 5328] Misuse of term "actual value"

http://www.w3.org/Bugs/Public/show_bug.cgi?id=5328

           Summary: Misuse of term "actual value"
           Product: XML Schema
           Version: 1.0/1.1 both
          Platform: PC
        OS/Version: Windows XP
            Status: NEW
          Severity: normal
          Priority: P2
         Component: Datatypes: XSD Part 2
        AssignedTo: cmsmcq@w3.org
        ReportedBy: mike@saxonica.com
         QAContact: www-xml-schema-comments@w3.org


In 4.3.5.2 XML Representation of enumeration Schema Components, it is stated
that the {value} of the enumeration facet is based on the "actual value" of
xs:enumeration/@value. But the definition of "actual value" in Part 1 says that
this is obtained by interpreting the value of the attribute as written
according to the type of that attribute defined in the schema for schemas,
which in this case is xs:anySimpleType. Clearly the intent here is to interpret
the value as an instance of the base type of the type being defined.

This problem also arises for "fixed" and "default" values defined in Schema
Part 1, which adopts the informal style "the ·actual value· (with respect to
the {type definition}) of the [attribute]". I would suggest adopting similar
language for the definition of enumeration, and adding a gloss to the
definition of "actual value" to indicate that in some cases the actual value is
taken with respect to some type other than the type declared for the attribute
in the schema for schemas.

(Note: in case anyone thinks that it's not necessary to fix this because it's
obvious what was intended, I've just found a problem in Saxon that appears to
result from taking a literal reading of what the spec says here, rather than
guessing what was intended.)

Received on Saturday, 22 December 2007 11:41:45 UTC