Re: XSLT, XHTML, and default attribute values [somewha

  I don't understand the benefits of using defaulted values, as anyone
  studying the xml also needs to study the dtd to ensure they get the full
  picture.  Seems crazy, really.


well of course they come from sgml where the situation was rather
different, you always had to read the dtd anyway as you couldn't parse
the file at all without it, so given that you were reading the dtd each
time moving the defaults into the DTD rather than making the application
imply that value if the attribute was missing has some benefits.

With XML they do tend to cause problems, made worse by schema bringing
in another set of variable rules, and defaulted element content as well.
so you may get four different  "infosets" depending on whether a schema,
a dtd, both or neither has been read for a given document.

David

________________________________________________________________________
This e-mail has been scanned for all viruses by Star. The
service is powered by MessageLabs. For more information on a proactive
anti-virus service working around the clock, around the globe, visit:
http://www.star.net.uk
________________________________________________________________________