[XML-DEV Mailing List Archive Home] [By Thread] [By Date] [Recent Entries] [Reply To This Message] ANN: a portable data component -- length
Hi Folks, [Definition] Portable Data Component: a chunk of markup that can be taken out of one context and dropped into another context, unchanged. The component does not depend on its context for evaluating its constraints. EXAMPLE #1 Here is the altitude of an aircraft, expressed in both feet and meters: <altitude> <feet>12000</feet> <meters>3657.6</meters> </altitude> It is important that the two length values are consistent: meters = feet * 12 inches/ft * 2.54 cm/in * m/100cm = 12000 * 12 * 2.54 * 0.01 = 3657.6 The following is invalid because the values are not consistent: <altitude> <feet>12000</feet> <meters>4000</meters> </altitude> This example shows that there is a constraint between the value of the <feet> element and the value of the <meters> element. EXAMPLE #2 Here is the distance from my home to Boston, expressed in both miles and kilometers: <distance-to-Boston> <miles>40</miles> <kilometers>64.37376</kilometers> </distance-to-Boston> It may be desired to express the distance in yards as well: <distance-to-Boston> <miles>40</miles> <kilometers>64.37376</kilometers> <yards>70400</yards> </distance-to-Boston> There is a constraint between the value of the <miles> element, the <kilometers> element, and the <yards> element. DESIRED CHARACTERISTICS OF A "LENGTH" DATA COMPONENT It would be useful to create a data component that: (1) Permits a length to be expressed in various units (2) Ensures that the values in different units are consistent (3) Can be dropped into different contexts without alteration We have created a data component that possesses these characteristics! PORTABLE LENGTH DATA COMPONENT Here is the portable length data component: http://www.xfront.com/xml-schema-1-1/best-practice/portable-data-components/length.xsd Here is a sample XML instance document: http://www.xfront.com/xml-schema-1-1/best-practice/portable-data-components/test.xml ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS Thanks to the following people for the development of the portable length data component: - Mike Brenner - Roger Costello - Michael Fletcher - Mukul Gandhi - Stephen Green - Jasen Jacobsen - Bob Natale
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