Combining DTDs

[John Cowan]

Peter Murray-Rust wrote:

> Example:
> <molecule>
>   <price currency="USD" unit="litre">1.0</price>
>   <atomArray builtin="element">O H H</atomArray>
> </molecule>
> 
> This does NOT break my software because it simply scans for things it knows
> about in content (e.g. <atomArray>).

This is the perfect application of namespaces, since your module that
understands molecules wants to process only "C:molecule" elements, where
C is any prefix that is proxied to its namespace URI.  Other random
"molecule" elements created by other people for other reasons should
not get processed.

> This is perhaps cleaner, but it's a lot more complicated and not many
> people (with 2-3 honourable exceptions) seem to be interested in developing
> XLink applications or software.

Part of the trouble is that the XLink WDs are old, and we keep hearing
rumors of massive changes in the next draft --- which has not yet
been forthcoming.  Until that happens, I for one will shy away from
XLink.

(I'm also piqued because I sent 8 or 9 well-drafted defect reports
to the XLink/XPointer editors and heard nothing except "Thanks for
sending, we'll reply soon."  That was in June.  A later ping got
no reply.)

-- 
John Cowan	http://www.ccil.org/~cowan		cowan at ccil.org
	You tollerday donsk?  N.  You tolkatiff scowegian?  Nn.
	You spigotty anglease?  Nnn.  You phonio saxo?  Nnnn.
		Clear all so!  'Tis a Jute.... (Finnegans Wake 16.5)

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