SOAP encodingStyle Attribute

Hello,

While reading the SOAP 1.2 draft, I noticed that the encodingStyle attribute 
discussion [1] states in regard to messages using the SOAP encoding 
rules:

SOAP messages using this particular serialization SHOULD indicate this 
using the SOAP encodingStyle attribute information item."

This is unchanged from SOAP 1.1, but what has changed is that the 
stipulation "There is no default encoding defined for a SOAP message.
" has fallen out.

I wonder if there was any consideration of changing the "SHOULD" to a 
"MUST", or if by implication the SOAP encoding rules might be the 
default. Forcing the declaration of encoding styles on encoded blocks by 
senders might make life for receivers a little easier by guaranteeing that 
the information will be present in the message itself.  In particular, the 
handling of messages containing a mix of encoded and literal blocks in 
the header becomes easier to deal with. I couldn't find anything bearing 
on this point in the archives, perhaps this was discussed at some point in 
the past.

Thanks,

RC

Received on Saturday, 5 January 2002 12:09:21 UTC