[XML-DEV Mailing List Archive Home] [By Thread] [By Date] [Recent Entries] [Reply To This Message] RE: Linkbases, Topic Maps, and RDF Knowledge Bases -- help me
Hi Ouche, Ouche said: If one of these suit you, then I think you're drawing a false parallel with frames. Frames are more analogous to the resource in the resulting abstract model. Didier replies: The format of the <ref:description> element _may_ have the characteristics of a frame. It is precisly this characteristics which - in the context of links - brings all its value. Obviously the abstract model behind it may be totally different, even be more complex. However, the result or the serialized format: the frame, can be processed easily, understood even more easily. If we say to a newbe: if you have a particular XML vocabulary just add these attributes and you transform any of your elements into a link. This person may infer that it is like OO and that we simply inherited a behavior. Then, if we say: add a collection of properties to a link (or to a locator) and you now have a descriptiona about what is pointed. This person may infer that we have a kind of semantic link or a link having more than simply a pointer. It is now a link containing information about what is pointed. Not too hard to grasp for any newbe (ok the person has some notions about XML and is not totally newbe - but it remains that the concept is not too hard to grasp anyway). The whole point has been said previously. A link is a pointer to something. An red:description... a description _about_ something. Now if this description could be made applicable in different context like for instance the context of a pointer, then we have now a pointer and a description about what is pointed. Simply from a utilitarian point of view. So, even if the model behind it is complex, the frame concept is easy to grasp and therefore accessible to more people and could used in day to day applications. its only that having a link pointing to a particular node and having this link augmented with meta data packaged as a frame is tremendously useful for knowledge managemtn and easy to grasp. Hence we simply multiply the possibilities that people will do useful things with it. Moreover, we make it more accessible to practical people. cheers Didier PH Martin site: http://www.talva.com email: martind@n... book: Professional XML (wrox) next conferences: xml devcon 2001 New York Wireless One
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