[XML-DEV Mailing List Archive Home] [By Thread] [By Date] [Recent Entries] [Reply To This Message] Re: Re: 3 possible approaches for representing concepts
Joe: Definately not number 1. I have seen approach #1 when organizations want to XMLize their EDI. It is ugly and it is a programmers nightmare dealing with the long elements names. It is much better to break it down into logical attributes. I think you you want 2 or 3. How about a #4 <EstimatedAmount yearType="CurrentYear" amountType="Budget" finalIndicator="Final"> I think you could make the case the <EstimatedAmount> and <Amount> should be distinctive. Also if there are default attributes, the values wouldn't necessarily be required. I still think the discussion of elements and attributes from Robin Covers is good reading! Betty On Wed, 2 Apr 2003, Chiusano Joseph wrote: > Clarification: There was some stray text at the end, here are the 3 > approaches: > > APPROACH #1: Element-based approach > > - One long-named element that represents the entire "concept": > > <CurrentYearBudgetFinalEstimatedAmount>999.99</CurrentYearBudgetFinalEstimatedAmount> > > APPROACH #2: Attribute-based approach > > - One short- and simply-named element that represents the most basic > concept, with multiple attributes to "fill in the meaning": > > <Amount yearType="CurrentYear" amountType="Budget" > finalIndicator="Final" estimateIndicator="Estimated">999.99</Amount> > > APPROACH #3: Combined approach > > - One more "fully-named" element with several attributes to "fill in the > meaning": > > <FinalEstimatedAmount yearType="CurrentYear" amountType="Budget"> > 999.99</FinalEstimatedAmount> > > Thanks! > Joe > Joseph Chiusano wrote: > > > > I would like to please solicit some quick feedback if possible regarding > > an approach to using elements and/or attributes to represent concepts in > > an XML document. I am having a "healthy debate" with a "colleague" on > > how much "meaning" should be placed into an element name, and how much > > (if any) should be "filled out" by attributes. > > > > Below I've identified 3 approaches for representing a concept called > > (pipes separate the "subconcepts"): > > > > CurrentYear|Budget|Final|Estimated|Amount > > > > A "related" element in the same XML document might be called (note only > > the first subconcept has been changed): > > > > PriorYear|Budget|Final|Estimated|Amount > > > > I am interested in feedback regarding which of the 3 approaches below > > folks have used (whether it was an XML schema or DTD), and also which > > may be best for both constructing an XML document based on database > > contents, and parsing an XML document and committing the contents to a > > database. I am aware of all the "issues" surrounding use of attributes > > (order not enforced, cannot have duplicate names, namespace handling, > > etc.), so my inquiry is outside of those. My personal experience tells > > me that approach #2 (attribute-based approach) is not best practice, and > > there *may* be some issues with tools. > > > > And here they are: > > > > APPROACH #1: Element-based approach > > > > - One long-named element that represents the entire "concept": > > > > <CurrentYearBudgetFinalEstimatedAmount>999.99</CurrentYearBudgetFinalEstimatedAmount> > > > > APPROACH #2: Attribute-based approach > > > > - One short- and simply-named element that represents the most basic > > concept, with multiple attributes to "fill in the meaning": > > > > <Amount yearType="CurrentYear" amountType="Budget" > > finalIndicator="Final" estimateIndicator="Estimated">999.99</Amount> > > > > APPROACH #3: Combined approach > > > > - One more "fully-named" element with several attributes to "fill in the > > meaning": > > > > <FinalEstimatedAmount yearType="CurrentYear" amountType="Budget"> > > 999.99</FinalEstimatedAmount> > > > > <CurrentYearBudgetFinalEstimatedAmount > > core:amountTypeID="Federal">999</core:EstimatedUnobligatedAmount> > > > > Thanks in advance for your feedback. > > > > Joe Chiusano > > Booz | Allen | Hamilton --
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