RE: Issue: XML_LANG_CLARIFY

   From: Julian Reschke [mailto:julian.reschke@gmx.de]

   1) If you don't validate (and although the RFC shows DTD fragments, they
   can't be used for validation), any attribute can appear on any element.
It's
   up the RFC to define what this means.

The RFC is equally capable of declaring that an attribute on a
paricular element type is syntactically illegal.  Whether or not the
XML "DTD validates" is not especially relevant or interesting (we have
many syntactic constraints in the protocol that cannot be expressed
conveniently in DTD form).

   2) The current RFC current defines that xml:lang is to be persisted, no
   matter whether it appears on the property element or an ancestor.

To be precise, RFC 2518 states:

   Language tagging information in the property's value (in the
   "xml:lang" attribute, if present) MUST be persistently stored along
   with the property, and MUST be subsequently retrievable using
   PROPFIND.

This statement does not specify whether an xml:lang attribute
can appear in the DAV:prop element, or just in the actual property
value elements.  In other words, a statement of the form "no
attributes can be placed on a DAV:prop element" would not conflict
with this language in RFC 2518.

   3) Actually, I would prefer to state that *any* attribute can appear on
the
   property element, and that they all should be persisted. It makes the
spec
   easier and would conform with Canonical XML.

Just to make sure we aren't talking past each other, I have very
different opinions on what we should allow on the DAV:prop element (I
prefer no attributes, but can live with "only xml:lang" or "only
attributes in the xml namespace"), and what we allow on the property
elements, e.g. DAV:displayname, DAV:getcontentlength, etc. (I prefer
all attributes allowed, and must be maintained by the server).

So when you say "any attribute can appear on a property element", if
you are referring to elements like "DAV:displayname", I agree with
you, but if you are referring to the DAV:prop element, I disagree.
And the spec is free to disallow attributes on DAV:prop but allow
attributes on elements like DAV:displayname.

Cheers,
Geoff

Received on Thursday, 26 April 2001 11:57:04 UTC