[XML-DEV Mailing List Archive Home] [By Thread] [By Date] [Recent Entries] [Reply To This Message]

RE: ISO and the Standards Golden Hammer (was Re:[xml-d ev] Yo

• To: "Bullard, Claude L (Len)" <clbullar@i...>, "'Michael Kay'" <michael.h.kay@n...>
• Subject: RE: ISO and the Standards Golden Hammer (was Re:[xml-d ev] You call that a standard?)
• From: Rex Brooks <rexb@s...>
• Date: Sun, 2 May 2004 15:48:15 -0700
• Cc: xml-dev@l...
• In-reply-to: <15725CF6AFE2F34DB8A5B4770B7334EE03F9F763@h...>
• References: <15725CF6AFE2F34DB8A5B4770B7334EE03F9F763@h...>

Looks like data dictionaries are making a comeback. Seem very useful 
to me. I don't recall seeing a rule that said if one has an xml 
schema one can't also have a matching data dictionary, or vice versa.

Ciao,
Rex

At 1:56 PM -0500 5/2/04, Bullard, Claude L (Len) wrote:
>It was the IDEs and the position that if the code validated the
>file, who needed a data dictionary?   Just had that discussion
>with a programmer and his manager last week.  The programmer
>considers it just a document to show a customer.  Our certification
>chief has other ideas.  Our manager thinks it is the best way
>to keep lots of independent minded, IDE equipped staff in line.
>
>len
>
>
>From: Michael Kay [mailto:michael.h.kay@n...]
>
>>  Worse, the "data dictionary" fad was heavily in force
>>  in those days and even the vaguely meaningful "LYNR" was being
>>  replaced by indecipherable crud like "A0942B"...
>
>I'm surprised at this perception. My recollection is that when data
>dictionaries were popular, everyone knew they had to call it
>"LAST_YEARS_NET_REVENUE" rather than every programmer making up their own
>cryptic abbreviation; what's more, every screen that it appeared on used the
>same validation rules. I've always felt that the data dictionary was one of
>the good ideas of the 1980s that we've lost. An XML Schema is a partial
>substitute, but a very poor one.
>
>Perhaps it's another European idea that never really caught on in the
>States. Certainly, it was the advent of the RDBMS that caused its demise.
>
>Michael Kay
>
>
>-----------------------------------------------------------------
>The xml-dev list is sponsored by XML.org <http://www.xml.org>, an
>initiative of OASIS <http://www.oasis-open.org>
>
>The list archives are at http://lists.xml.org/archives/xml-dev/
>
>To subscribe or unsubscribe from this list use the subscription
>manager: <http://www.oasis-open.org/mlmanage/index.php>
>
>-----------------------------------------------------------------
>The xml-dev list is sponsored by XML.org <http://www.xml.org>, an
>initiative of OASIS <http://www.oasis-open.org>
>
>The list archives are at http://lists.xml.org/archives/xml-dev/
>
>To subscribe or unsubscribe from this list use the subscription
>manager: <http://www.oasis-open.org/mlmanage/index.php>


-- 
Rex Brooks
GeoAddress: 1361-A Addison, Berkeley, CA, 94702 USA, Earth
W3Address: http://www.starbourne.com
Email: rexb@s...
Tel: 510-849-2309
Fax: By Request

• References:
  • RE: ISO and the Standards Golden Hammer (was Re:[xml-d ev] You call that a standard?)
    • From: "Bullard, Claude L (Len)" <clbullar@i...>

• Prev by Date: RE: ISO and the Standards Golden Hammer (was Re:[xml-d ev] You call that a standard?)
• Next by Date: Re: ISO and the Standards Golden Hammer (was Re:[xml-d ev] You call that a standard?)
• Previous by thread: RE: ISO and the Standards Golden Hammer (was Re:[xml-d ev] You call that a standard?)
• Next by thread: RE: ISO and the Standards Golden Hammer (was Re:[xml-d ev] You call that a standard?)
• Index(es):
  • Date
  • Thread