Conformance in XML processors

[David Megginson]

James Clark writes:

 > > I think that James would have to add "processing external text
 > > entities" to that list, since the PR labels them as "included if
 > > validating," implying that non-validating parsers need not include
 > > them.
 > 
 > Yes, you're right: the PR doesn't appear to require this. I am a bit
 > surprised.  I thought at one stage the spec said that the parser had to
 > be able to do this if requested by the application/user, and I would
 > expect this capability of any general purpose XML processor.

This is really part of a broader issue.  There is a set of XML
features -- external text entities, NDATA entities, notations, and
ID/IDREF -- that are absolutely basic for typical SGML documents.
When people suggest that these are 'advanced' features in XML, then
one of the following two statements must apply:

1) they expect that XML documents will not typically include internal
   cross-references; that they will not include graphics, sound,
   video, or other non-XML material; and that they will consist of
   only a single physical file; or

2) they believe that ID/IDREF, NDATA entities, notations, and external
   text entities are overly-complicated SGML relics left in to satisfy
   a few pedants on the WG, and that XML and XLL provide other, simpler
   mechanisms with the same functionality.

Clarification from the WG would be helpful here.


All the best,


David

-- 
David Megginson                 ak117 at freenet.carleton.ca
Microstar Software Ltd.         dmeggins at microstar.com
      http://home.sprynet.com/sprynet/dmeggins/

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