[topicmapmail] Embedding XTM Was: XTM Datatypes

[W. Eliot Kimber]

Anthony B. Coates wrote:
> ** Reply to message from Lars Marius Garshol <larsga@garshol.priv.no> on 12 Dec
> 2002 18:15:11 +0100
> 
> 
>>I have to say I'm with Murray here. Can't you do this with XTM
>>already? If not, what's the problem?
> 
> 
> The problem is that you have to know what it *means* to have XTM embedded
> another XML format.  I suggested one semantic interpretation, but surely not
> the only one.  The issue is that I'm not convinced that everyone would
> implement topic map extraction identically to the way I would.

I'm not sure what you mean by "know what it means". I don't see how the 
context in which a topicMap element occurs can, in any way, affect the 
way that topic map would be interpreted WRT the definitions in XTM 
and/or ISO/IEC 13250--it is just a set of topics and associations.

If, as I have, you define a document type specifically for the purpose 
of managing multiple topicMap elements within a single XML document 
instance, you might have some private meaning, such as implying or 
defining some additional merging rules. But the "meaning" of the topics 
as defined in the relevant standards cannot be affected by the context 
in which the topicMap elements occur.

Cheers,

Eliot
-- 
W. Eliot Kimber, eliot@isogen.com
Consultant, ISOGEN International

1016 La Posada Dr., Suite 240
Austin, TX  78752 Phone: 512.656.4139