[XML-DEV Mailing List Archive Home] [By Thread] [By Date] [Recent Entries] [Reply To This Message] RE: Request for advice defining an XML based syntax
I also have some (philosophical) questions about elements and attributes in XML. Rick J's point: > 3) The content of an element is the text that a dumb browser that is not > aware of your document type will display it. Therefore the text > should be in the nature of an alternative string for guidance. So > <caption> should be content, and <left> etc should use attributes. made a lot of sense for me. I think, however, that John G's application of XML is such that the properties of objects 'are' the content, and therefore it's not required for other viewers to skip that information. I would like to hear some pro's & con's about the following four styles (continuing John Gossman's example): 1 Attributes within element <button top=20 left=20 bottom=40 right=100> <caption>Click me!</caption> </button> 2 Attributes as single specific sub-element <button> <region top=20 left=20 bottom=40 right=100 /> <caption>Click me!</caption> </button> 3 Attributes as several specific sub-elements NOTE: the properties of the button are stored as in style 1 (i.e. within the element) so other viewers can skip them. <button> <top value=20/> <left value=20/> <bottom value=40/> <right value=100/> <caption>Click me!</caption> </button> 4 Attributes as several generic sub-elements NOTE: The properties of the button are stored as content, since the document is intented to be storage for objects & their properties (i.e. the properties 'are' the content). <button> <prop name="top">20</prop> <prop name="left">20</prop> <prop name="bottom">40</prop> <prop name="right">100</prop> <caption>Click me!</caption> </button> In addition I have two questions about elements and attributes. 1. Generic tag with 'type' attribute When should you use a generic <object type="button"> versus a specific <button>: generic: <object type="button> Click this! </object> specific: <button> Click this! </button> 2. Attributes as sub-element(s) When should you move attributes to a sub-element: as attributes: <button top=20 left=20 bottom=40 right=100> </button> as sub-element: <button> <region top=20 left=20 bottom=40 right=100 /> </button> xml-dev: A list for W3C XML Developers Archived as: http://www.lists.ic.ac.uk/hypermail/xml-dev/ To unsubscribe, send to majordomo@i... the following message; unsubscribe xml-dev List coordinator, Henry Rzepa (rzepa@i...)
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