[topicmapmail] Choosing between association and reification

[G. Ken Holman]

Hi again, folks, I'm still plugging away with my UBL subcommittee topic map.

I'm trying to decide how to map a given formatting specification for a 
particular document type in a given scenario.

Below are two approaches, and I'm curious people's opinions on which way to go.

Both have the formatting specification as a topic, because I need to talk 
about the formatting specification: what is its last changed date, and for 
each UBL release as a scope what the filename is for that release.  I'm 
guessing that is an appropriate use for scope.

(A) is a tripartite association where the three parties are the scenario, 
the document type and the formatting specification.

(B) is a bipartite association where the formatting specification is the 
reification of the association.

I can think of going either way when recording my 15 (so far) formatting 
specifications for the 7 document types and the 3 scenarios, and would be 
curious of pros and cons if anyone would be willing to share their opinions 
as to which of the two (or perhaps another!) way they would go.  I'm trying 
to anticipate long-term maintenance benefits or problems: all three 
categories will be growing.

Thanks for any help you can be!

.................. Ken


(A) - tripartite association

<association id="fs-jda">
  <member>
   <roleSpec>
    <topicRef xlink:href="#scenario"/>
   </roleSpec>
   <topicRef xlink:href="#joinery"/>
  </member>
  <member>
   <roleSpec>
    <topicRef xlink:href="#doctype"/>
   </roleSpec>
   <topicRef xlink:href="#ubl-despadv"/>
  </member>
  <member>
   <roleSpec>
    <topicRef xlink:href="#formspec"/>
   </roleSpec>
   <topicRef xlink:href="#fs-jda-t"/>
  </member>
</association>
<topic id="fs-jda-t">
  <instanceOf>
   <topicRef xlink:href="#formspec"/>
  </instanceOf>
  <occurrence>
   <instanceOf>
    <topicRef xlink:href="#date"/>
   </instanceOf>
   <resourceData>2003-01-27</resourceData>
  </occurrence>
  <occurrence>
   <instanceOf>
    <topicRef xlink:href="#filename"/>
   </instanceOf>
   <scope>
    <topicRef xlink:href="#ubl-0p70"/>
   </scope>
   <resourceData>UBL_FS_0p70_DespatchAdvice.html</resourceData>
  </occurrence>
</topic>

(B) Reified bipartite association

<association id="fs-jda">
  <instanceOf>
   <topicRef xlink:href="#formspec"/>
  </instanceOf>
  <member>
   <roleSpec>
    <topicRef xlink:href="#scenario"/>
   </roleSpec>
   <topicRef xlink:href="#joinery"/>
  </member>
  <member>
   <roleSpec>
    <topicRef xlink:href="#doctype"/>
   </roleSpec>
   <topicRef xlink:href="#ubl-despadv"/>
  </member>
</association>
<topic id="fs-jda-t">
  <instanceOf>
   <topicRef xlink:href="#formspec"/>
  </instanceOf>
  <subjectIdentity>
   <subjectIndicatorRef xlink:href="#fs-jda"/>
  </subjectIdentity>
  <occurrence>
   <instanceOf>
    <topicRef xlink:href="#date"/>
   </instanceOf>
   <scope>
    <topicRef
   <resourceData>2003-01-27</resourceData>
  </occurrence>
  <occurrence>
   <instanceOf>
    <topicRef xlink:href="#filename"/>
   </instanceOf>
   <scope>
    <topicRef xlink:href="#ubl-0p70"/>
   </scope>
   <resourceData>UBL_FS_0p70_DespatchAdvice.html</resourceData>
  </occurrence>
</topic>


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G. Ken Holman                mailto:gkholman@CraneSoftwrights.com
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