Mixed-content use-cases and questions

[Marcus Carr]

"Clark C. Evans" wrote:

> Most of the XML DTD's that I've seen
> are strictly hierarchical.  Questions:
>
> 1.  Are there any use cases besides HTML
>     for mixed content?

Unquestionably.

> 2.  For modular XHTML, could a <xhtml:plain>
>     element be included that eliminates
>     the need for mixed-content?
>
>     <p>hello<b>world</b></p>
>
>            becomes
>
>     <p><plain>hello</plain>
>        <b><plain>world</plain></b>
>     </p>

... and:

    <p>hello <i>sweet <b>world</b></i>.</p>

becomes:

   <p><plain>hello</plain><i><plain>sweet</plain>
   <b><plain>world</plain></b></i><plain>.</plain></p>

I don't like you chances of selling that to anyone. Also, we have both conveniently
omitted the spaces between words - if inserted, a slightly different example of:

   <p>hello <i>sweet</i> <b>world</b>.</p>

... might become:

   <p><plain>hello </plain><i><plain>sweet</plain></i>
   <plain> </plain><b><plain>world</plain></b><plain>.</plain></p>

Just as the period isn't supposed to be emphasised, one could argue that the spaces don't
belong to the elements either. If the element was a partnumber, it would probably be
incorrect to insert an additional space - that means that you have to deal with them
separately, not just bundle them into a convenient element. I don't see much future for
your proposed approach.


--
Regards,

Marcus Carr                      email:  mrc at allette.com.au
___________________________________________________________________
Allette Systems (Australia)      www:    http://www.allette.com.au
___________________________________________________________________
"Everything should be made as simple as possible, but not simpler."
       - Einstein



xml-dev: A list for W3C XML Developers. To post, mailto:xml-dev at ic.ac.uk
Archived as: http://www.lists.ic.ac.uk/hypermail/xml-dev/ or CD-ROM/ISBN 981-02-3594-1
Please note: New list subscriptions now closed in preparation for transfer to OASIS.