[topicmapmail] TM Question

[Alexander Johannesen]

On 1/24/07, Lars Heuer <heuer at semagia.com> wrote:
> Without knowing the concrete requirements you can either model the
> "ranking attributes" via the scope property of associations or you can
> reify particular associations and 'attach' the attributes to the
> reifying topics. Or you use the reifying topics in other
> associations that connect the "ranking attributes".

This is that old song "how can I put properties on my topics and
relationships", and the answer is that you *can* do it but not easily
nor elegantly; Lars' answer above is the right answer (although I have
some reservations against the use of scope, even if it is the easiest
option, and topic occurrences were left out), which in itself is a
testament to its complex nature. I understand perfectly why the TMDM
don't allow them, but it is one of the strongest arguments for moving
to TMRM, especially people new to Topic Maps who have to wrestle with
perfectly simple things as "how can I put a property of sorts on this
relationship" and the answer is "ontology and bucketloads of topics";
it doesn't make for easy Topic Mapping. IMHO.


Regards,

Alexander
-- 
 ---------------------------------------------------------------------------
 Project Wrangler, SOA, Information Alchymist, UX, RESTafarian, Topic Maps
------------------------------------------ http://shelter.nu/blog/ --------