[Bug 5435] The term "valid schema" is used but not defined

http://www.w3.org/Bugs/Public/show_bug.cgi?id=5435

           Summary: The term "valid schema" is used but not defined
           Product: XML Schema
           Version: 1.0/1.1 both
          Platform: PC
        OS/Version: Windows 2000
            Status: NEW
          Severity: normal
          Priority: P2
         Component: Structures: XSD Part 1
        AssignedTo: cmsmcq@w3.org
        ReportedBy: noah_mendelsohn@us.ibm.com
         QAContact: www-xml-schema-comments@w3.org


The phrase "valid schema" appears several times in Schema structures, and in
particular is used in normative constraints.  The term is not formally defined,
and thus there are no hyperlinked terminology references.  

In principle, I would suggest that the term be given a formal definition and
linked.   In practice, I observe that some (perhaps not all) of the references
are from composition-related constraints that are known to be controversial in
the group.  For example, in "Schema Representation Constraint: Inclusion
Constraints and Semantics" [1] we find:

"It [I.e. the URI that is the value of a schemaLocation attribute on an
<include> ... NRM]  resolves to a <schema> element information item in a
well-formed information set, which in turn corresponds to a valid schema."

We know that there is disagreement in the group as to whether it is best to say
that such a <schema> element will in general correspond to a schema at all,
much less a valid one.  This bug is being opened not to restart that debate,
but merely to point out that if the phrase "valid schema" occurs, it should be
defined.   Whether we can fix that without first resolving the larger issue,
I'm not sure.

See also bug 5164, which mentions confusion about the term "valid schema". 
(Bug 516 was discussed at the January, 2008 Schema WG F2F meeting.  During the
course of that meeting, I was given an action to open this new bug.)

Noah

Noah

[1] http://www.w3.org/TR/2004/PER-xmlschema-1-20040318/#compound-schema

Received on Monday, 28 January 2008 22:07:42 UTC