[topicmapmail] Contextualized Topic Maps.

[Thomas B. Passin]

Carlo Moneti wrote:

> * Murray Altheim wrote:
> 
>> I think the idea of scoping topics is a bit of a non-sequitor, and
>> is perhaps a mistaken understanding of the Topic Maps paradigm.
>> In the real world as well as in Topic Maps, topics simply *exist*
>> (in TM, Topics are proxies for their subjects). I believe what
>> you really want is the ability to provide a context in which those
>> Topics play a role in an Association.
> 
> 
> Is scoping topics really unapplicable? Suppose I have a repository of 
> documents, and I want to see the "reviewed" ones and not the 
> "unreviewed".  What would be the recommended approach?

Scope the base names.  When you "see" a topic, normally you "see" its 
name in a list or display.  By filtering on the scope, you can prevent 
its appearance, thus effectively removing it temporarily.  Similarly, 
you can scope occurrences.

In your example, you could also use a "status" occurrence to track the 
reviewed status of the topics for the documents, and filter on the 
status.  That is most likely how I would do it.  I think of scopes as 
being less emphemeral than a status that could change.  To me, they are 
more about the nature of a (whatever), and less about its temporary 
state.  But that is not actually in any spec, it is just my view.

Cheers,

Tom P