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Re: Deterministic Content Models (was DTD ( From EliotteRust H

• From: John Cowan <jcowan@r...>
• To: Rob Lugt <roblugt@e...>
• Date: Thu, 27 Sep 2001 12:20:23 -0400

Quoth the XML Rec:


"For compatibility, it is an error if an element in the document can match
more than one occurrence of an element type in the content model. For more
information, see E Deterministic Content Models."

> Elliotte:> No conforming validating XML parser will reject [ambiguous

 > Elliotte:> content models].

> Rob Lugt:> This long-winded sentence appears to be referring to deterministic

> Rob Lugt:> content models.  In addition it indicates that the constraint should

 > Rob Lugt:> be treated as an *error*, not a warning.

You are both wrong, alas.

"It is an error" means that 1) no XML document should do this, and 2) an
XML processor may or may not detect or report it.  So the use of an
ambiguous (non-deterministic) content model may cause any of the
following behaviors:

1) it just works;
2) it just fails silently;
3) it just generates an error;
4) it just makes demons fly out of your nose.
-- 
Not to perambulate             || John Cowan <jcowan@r...>
    the corridors               || http://www.reutershealth.com
during the hours of repose     || http://www.ccil.org/~cowan
    in the boots of ascension.  \\ Sign in Austrian ski-resort hotel

• Follow-Ups:
  • Re: Deterministic Content Models (was DTD ( From EliotteRust Harold's Book))
    • From: Rob Lugt <roblugt@e...>

• References:
  • RE: DTD ( From Eliotte Rust Harold's Book)
    • From: Baudoncq Gert <Gert.Baudoncq@z...>
  • Re: DTD ( From Eliotte Rust Harold's Book)
    • From: Martin Gudgin <marting@d...>
  • Re: DTD ( From Eliotte Rust Harold's Book)
    • From: Rob Lugt <roblugt@e...>
  • Re: DTD ( From Eliotte Rust Harold's Book)
    • From: Elliotte Rusty Harold <elharo@m...>
  • Re: Deterministic Content Models (was DTD ( From EliotteRust Harold's Book))
    • From: Rob Lugt <roblugt@e...>

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