Re: XSLT/XPath 2.0 (was "Identifying two tags...")

Play the video

Subject: Re: XSLT/XPath 2.0 (was "Identifying two tags...")
From: Wendell Piez <wapiez@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>
Date: Wed, 08 May 2002 15:53:52 -0400

Evan,

At 01:59 PM 5/6/2002, you wrote:

Some people are concerned about the sheer number of functions and operators
in XPath 2.0 (almost five times as many as in 1.0). A related issue is XPath
2.0's heavy dependence on XML Schemas. I personally share some of these
concerns. The real test of the specification's success is the number and
quality of implementations. Saxon 7 is a good pioneer. It would be great
(even crucial) to see more efforts sprout up before we approach
Recommendation status.

Could you comment more specifically please on the heavy dependence on Schemas you mention?

In particular, I'm concerned whether this dependence will mean it's not possible to use XPath 2, with its sequences, conditionals etc., in an environment where there is no schema (or no W3C Schema).

I've used W3C Schema a bit, and my experience with it suggests that most of it is vast overkill for most of what I want to do, which is on the document-centric not data-centric side. It's as if I were a baker, and W3C Schema were a chemistry lab: it's true that what I do involves some chemistry, but I can achieve what I want with some leavening and a 350 degree oven. Although Schema's mortar and pestle are nice, the centrifuge and autoclave are rather more than I need, and I don't have any idea why I'd want that hydrochloric acid. Please don't tell me I'd be a better baker if I learned to use the centrifuge, or about the great virtues of hydrochloric acid: that's just telling me you don't know from baking! :-)

I'm looking forward to the grouping, the round-tripping to node-sets etc. in XSLT 2.0; but count me among those who are nervous about XPath 2.0 largely because of the dependency questions. I'd be really happy to learn that XPath 2.0 will still do just fine even if I have no PSVI around.

I *suppose* I could go look at the draft ... but it would be nice to have a well-informed, sympathetic interlocutor put it in a nutshell.

Cheers,
Wendell


======================================================================
Wendell Piez                            mailto:wapiez@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
Mulberry Technologies, Inc.                http://www.mulberrytech.com
17 West Jefferson Street                    Direct Phone: 301/315-9635
Suite 207                                          Phone: 301/315-9631
Rockville, MD  20850                                 Fax: 301/315-8285
----------------------------------------------------------------------
  Mulberry Technologies: A Consultancy Specializing in SGML and XML
======================================================================

XSL-List info and archive: http://www.mulberrytech.com/xsl/xsl-list

Current Thread

Re: Identifying two tags that share some attribute names and values, (continued)
- Evan Lenz - Mon, 6 May 2002 03:45:19 -0400 (EDT)
  - Zack Brown - Mon, 6 May 2002 09:24:40 -0400 (EDT)
    - Evan Lenz - Mon, 6 May 2002 13:49:07 -0400 (EDT)
    - Wendell Piez - Wed, 8 May 2002 16:41:37 -0400 (EDT) <=
    - Jeni Tennison - Thu, 9 May 2002 05:29:45 -0400 (EDT)
    - Roger L. Costello - Thu, 9 May 2002 08:31:44 -0400 (EDT)
    - David Carlisle - Thu, 9 May 2002 08:43:36 -0400 (EDT)
    - Jeni Tennison - Thu, 9 May 2002 08:53:19 -0400 (EDT)

<- Previous	Index	Next ->
XSLT/XPath 2.0 (was "Identify, Evan Lenz	Thread	Re: XSLT/XPath 2.0 (was "Iden, Jeni Tennison
Re: Transformation in NetScap, Roma Yankin	Date	RE: Transformation in NetScap, Stuart Celarier
	Month

PURCHASE STYLUS STUDIO ONLINE TODAY!

Purchasing Stylus Studio from our online shop is Easy, Secure and Value Priced!

Download The World's Best XML IDE!

Accelerate XML development with our award-winning XML IDE - Download a free trial today!

Subscribe in XML format

RSS 2.0
Atom 0.3

XML Editor - Download a 15 Day Free Trial Now >

See What's New in Stylus Studio >

Buy Stylus Studio - XML Editor - Now >