Re: Namespaces spec is incomplete

on Fri, 11 Sep 1998 10:35:30 -0400 Murray wrote:
http://lists.w3.org/Archives/Public/xml-names-issues/1998JulSep/0059

>Part of the namespace spec deals with XML's namespace partitions,
>but does not state clearly all of the *parts of a name*,
>nor how those parts can be combined to yield a fully-qualified
>name for any XML object.

On behalf of the RDF work, I submit that it is not the place
of the XML Namespace Specification to define how parts are
combined to yield a fully qualified name.  Creating such a
definition will constrain future applications of the namespace
specification to define a mapping from this FQN to whatever
internal structure they choose to use.

>it is essential that the name parts be identified and an 
>agreed protocol be defined for naming the names of XML objects.

RDF specifically wishes to leave flexibility for schema implementors
to use the URI hierarchy and fragment mechanisms to partition their
names in the manner they deem most appropriate for the application.
For example, a short metadata vocabulary might be defined within
a single HTTP resource using fragments to name the individual objects
while a long vocabulary (some are expected to grow to order of tens
of thousands of objects) would likely use a different partition design
in order to have efficient retrieval of a subset of the definitions.

Respectfully,
-Ralph Swick
 W3C/MIT
 Metadata Activity Lead

Received on Tuesday, 15 September 1998 09:22:29 UTC