[DDI-users] Re:Adding tags to the DDI (Andrew L Arnott)

[Joachim Wackerow]

Mark,

I agree totally with this points.

In addition, for some scenarios it could be usefull to restrict the 
alternate namespaces to a subset of elements.

Achim

Mark R. Diggory wrote:

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> Achim and Andrew,
> 
> We can make other namespaces available for extension, this is the whole
> point of what we're attempting in the future with the DDI in terms of
> Structural Reform. We can make this as "controlled" or "loose" as
> determined necessary. I guess my thought is the following.
> 
> 1.) As long as the basic contents of the DDI (within the DDI Namespace)
> are validatable without concern for tags existing in alternate
> namespaces. Then the basic structure of the data is maintained.
> 
> 2.) As long as extensions such as MathML are used to express some
> "added" conditional logic around the DDI content without subtracting
> from its inherent structure, then it would probably be acceptable.
> 
> 3.) However, If tools become dependent on the presence and "validity" of
> alternate namespaced content appearing in DDI Documents (Such as MathML
> or any other namespaced validatable content)), and such extensibility is
> not managed properly, then we loose the ability to share DDI content
> across platforms, or encounter a significant loss of information
> concerning the structure of the data.
> 
> So we have to approach the idea of alternate namespaces and content very
> carefully. Opening up the DDI to allow any alternate namespace, in any
> possible configuration would be in my book, a very bad decision and
> result many issues and difficulties.
> 
> With this in mind, we should fully explore where benefits can be gained
> by including MathML in the variable sections and come up with an example
> of its inclusion in a controlled fashion.
> 
> We are addressing these issues of such extensibility in our working
> groups, and we hope we can come to an acceptable compromise for all the
> parties using the DDI.
> 
> - -Mark