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Re: Theoretical ruminations on SXML and XML

• To: <xml-dev@l...>
• Subject: Re: Theoretical ruminations on SXML and XML
• From: <juanrgonzaleza@c...>
• Date: Tue, 23 May 2006 07:08:47 -0700 (PDT)
• Cc: <darkman_spam@y...>
• Importance: Normal
• In-reply-to: <20060522174501.25375.qmail@w...>
• References: <3951.217.124.88.220.1148317772.squirrel@w...> <20060522174501.25375.qmail@w...>

Hi,

Florent Georges said:
> juanrgonzaleza@c... wrote:
>
>   Hi
>
>> but Content MathML defines a *new* mapping and uses
>
>> <apply><minus/><cn>3</cn></apply>
>
>> because claimed advantages.
>
>   But which advantages?

I asked to MathML folks why something as LISP (divide 3 4) is encoded as

<apply><divide/><cn>3</cn><cn>4</cn></apply>

rather than

<divide><cn>2</cn></divide>

and Stan Devitt replied

<blockquote>
1.  Why the use of an apply "container" instead of defining each operator
such as divide as a "container".
Answers:
   a)  easy to locate the operator in the XML structure
   b)  support for arbitrarily complex operators  (e.g. another apply,
and/or with elaborate presentations)
   c)  ease of extending mathml to use other symbols with associations  to
more formal definitions.
   d)  support use and discussion about the operators outside of the context
of applying them to arguments.

2.  Why the introduction of  operators and symbols as elements?
Answers:
   a)  clearly identifieable role from the rest of the document content
(Try searching a long string or document for meaningful occurrences of "E".)
   b)  elements provide an anchor for definitionURL and attributes
controlling display.
</blockquote>

In fact, If I remember correctly, David Carlisle (also from MathML)
pointed that a similar approach had been taken in last XHTML 2.0 regarding
the encoding of sections and headings (is not the XHTML 1.x model). But
the rest of XHTML model continue based in the old mapping.

If one follow MathML philosophy it appears that a more useful model would
be <apply><em/>···</apply>


>   Regards,
>
> --drkm


Juan R.

Center for CANONICAL |SCIENCE)

• References:
  • Re: Theoretical ruminations on SXML and XML
    • From: <juanrgonzaleza@c...>
  • Re: Theoretical ruminations on SXML and XML
    • From: Florent Georges <darkman_spam@y...>

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