Why can't Unique IDs be elements?

If elements were relational database columns I would be able to specify any
element(s) as keys. If I understand XSL correctly, only attributes of
elements can be IDs, not sub-elements themselves. Since it is likely that
most database-oriented applications will use regular columns as IDs (i.e.
the ID will have system/internal as well as real-world/external meaning), it
would be a major limitation if these were forced to become attributes of
some other element. Can this be fixed?

Many thanks

Alex Thomas 
IT Architect 
Dresdner Kleinwort Benson 
20 Fenchurch Street 
London 
EC3P 3DB 
UK 

thomasae@kben.co.uk <mailto:thomasae@kben.co.uk> 
Tel: +44 171 475 9030 
Fax: +44 171 475 9540 

Received on Monday, 24 August 1998 15:17:05 UTC