XSD: Proposed Goals, Rev. 1

[Simon St.Laurent]

A revised set of goals for XSD follows, based on Peter's public comments and 
the private comments of two other participants.  These are still open to 
change until Friday.

Per previous usage, XSD (Extensible or XML Structure Definitions) refers to 
the standard under construction. SDD (Structure Definition Document) refers to 
the schema/XMLDTD/etc. created using that standard.  (Better definitions are 
on the list of things to come very shortly.)

1. SDDs shall use XML document syntax.

2. SDDs shall be transformable into an XML 1.0 DTD containing the same element 
and attribute structures.

3. SDDs shall be capable of representing the normalized element and attribute 
structures defined in XML 1.0 DTDs.

4. SDDs shall be parseable, manageable, and manipulable using the same tools 
used to parse, manage, and manipulate XML documents.

5. SDDs shall be easy to create, modify, and document.

6. SDDs shall be easy to use in combination with a parser to provide 
structural validation of documents.

7. XSD shall include an XML 1.0 DTD defining the structure of SDDs.

8. XSD shall suggest mechanisms for applying SDDs to documents.

9. XSD shall include mechanisms for extending the information included in 
SDDs.

10. The XSD specification shall be readable and clear, using terminology and 
nomenclature as close to the XML 1.0 specification as possible.

11. The XSD specification will comply with and be consistent with W3C 
recommendations regarding XML.

--------------------

11 is new, and hopes to address both XSD's relationship with other parts of 
the XML standard (and XML-related standards) and XSD's relationship with the 
W3C.

This is a slightly-improved _start_.  Changes to language, meaning, order, 
terminology, etc. are 
all welcome, as are additions.  

Simon St.Laurent
Dynamic HTML: A Primer / XML: A Primer / Cookies


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