Units of measurement?

[Ronald Bourret]

Jeffrey E. Sussna wrote:

> Does the XSchema datatypes spec support the notion of units of 
measurement?
> In other words:
>
> 	element "x" is of type "speed", which can be in "mph" or "kph"
>
> A potential representation of this might be:
>
> 	<x units="mph">200</x>

Sort of.  What you can actually do is define a speed data type and say that 
the *units* attribute (not the x element) is of type speed -- that is, its 
value is either "mph" or "kph".  You can also say that the x element must 
have a units attribute.

Note that you can also do this specific example with DTDs, by defining 
units as an attribute with an enumerated type.

(Nit: XSchema is the name of the predecessor of DDML. I believe you are 
referring to XML Schemas -- the schema language being developed by the W3C. 
 Given the amount of confusion over these names, I'm beginning to wonder if 
we shouldn't donate the XSchema name to the W3C...)

-- Ron Bourret


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