• From: "Costello, Roger L." <costello@m...>
• To: <xml-dev@l...>
• Date: Thu, 28 Jun 2007 10:48:41 -0400

ISSUE

When implementing an XML instance document's set of constraints, what
is a Schematron schema's area of responsibility?
 
EXAMPLE

Consider this XML instance document:
 
<?xml version="1.0"?>
<Document classification="secret">
    <Para classification="unclassified">
          One if by land, two if by sea;
    </Para>
</Document>
 
Schematron is very well-suited for implementing this co-constraint:
 
Security Classification Policy: For the instance document to be valid
no <Para> element may have a classification value higher than the
<Document>'s classification value.

The implementation of this co-constraint is shown at the bottom of this
message.

RESPONSIBILITY OF A SCHEMATRON SCHEMA

The implementation makes some assumptions.  For example, it assumes
that the classification attributes have already been verified to have
legal values (top-secret, secret, confidential, and unclassified).

The Schematron schema *could* validate that the classification
attributes have legal values.  But so could a grammar-based schema
language (e.g. Relax NG, XML Schema).  

QUESTIONS

1. What is the responsibility of a Schematron schema?  

2. Should a Schematron schema implement constraints that could be done
by a grammar-based schema language? 

3. Should a Schematron schema implement only those constraints which
cannot be implemented by a grammar-based schema languages such as
co-constraints, data cardinality checks, and algorithmic checks?

4. How much intersection should there be between the set of constraints
implemented by a Schematron schema and the set of constraints
implemented by a grammar-based schema?

IMPLEMENTATION OF THE SECURITY CLASSIFICATION POLICY

   <sch:pattern name="Security Classification Policy">

      <sch:p>A Para's classification value cannot be more sensitive 
             than the Document's classification value.</sch:p> 

      <sch:rule context="Para[@classification='top-secret']">

         <sch:assert test="/Document/@classification='top-secret'">
             If there is a Para labeled "top-secret" then the Document

             must be labeled top-secret
         </sch:assert>

      </sch:rule>

      <sch:rule context="Para[@classification='secret']">

         <sch:assert test="(/Document/@classification='top-secret') or
                           (/Document/@classification='secret')">
             If there is a Para labeled "secret" then the Document  
             must be labeled either secret or top-secret
         </sch:assert>

      </sch:rule>

      <sch:rule context="Para[@classification='confidential']">

         <sch:assert test="(/Document/@classification='top-secret') or
                           (/Document/@classification='secret') or 
                           (/Document/@classification='confidential')">
             If there is a Para labeled "confidential" then the
Document  
             must be labeled either confidential, secret or top-secret
         </sch:assert>

      </sch:rule>

   </sch:pattern>

/Roger
 

• Follow-Ups:
  • Re: Schematron Best Practice: A Schematron schema's area of responsibility?
    • From: "bryan rasmussen" <rasmussen.bryan@g...>