Gregor,
My understanding of XML is that indeed, the character name and states should be written out fully in all descriptions. Characters and states should not be placed in a separate file aws in DELTA. The 'efficiency' of the DELTA model is really a trade off optimizing storage over processing. The makers of the XML model deliberately chose not to optimize storage and to create wordy XML files to optimize processing. File storage is not viewed as being a limiting factor any more, as it was when DELTA was designed.
There are a few ways to include data from other files and DTD's but these are best used to create templates and allow for differently structured DTD in the same document. Say you have a DTD describing a taxonomic paper. That DTD can easily reference separate DTD's for taxonomic nomenclature, plants specimens, and taxon descriptions, combining the results which can then be transformed into a full taxonomic treatment.
I think it is a mistake to try to directly translate the DELTA data model into XML. The XML model is different. It is more flexible, more readable, and more easily processed. It can also model hierarchies, though its relational capabilities are poor. The focus should be on developing a good XML model of taxonomic data. If necessary, it can be easily translated into DELTA format, or any other format, using XSL and can be processed by the available XML tools.
with Best regards
Kerry Barringer Brooklyn Botanic Garden
-----Original Message----- From: Gregor Hagedorn [mailto:G.Hagedorn@BBA.DE] Sent: Tuesday, November 20, 2001 5:17 AM To: TDWG-SDD@USOBI.ORG Subject: XML: is there an "xml-include"
If character are defined with an id (numeric or character) in one file, and the item descriptions use these ids through idref or through xml-schema keyref means:
How can a validating parser validate the schema, including keyrefs, without having to include the entire character definition in each of 1000s of taxon description xml files? Can the ids for idref/keyref be declared to be in a separate file?
I could not find a standard xml-include command. I know there is one defined for dtds, but that is all I could find.
Can the xml experts help?
Gregor
PS I will post minutes of the TDWG meeting within the next days ---------------------------------------------------------- Gregor Hagedorn (G.Hagedorn@bba.de) Institute for Plant Virology, Microbiology, and Biosafety Federal Research Center for Agriculture and Forestry (BBA) Koenigin-Luise-Str. 19 Tel: +49-30-8304-2220 14195 Berlin, Germany Fax: +49-30-8304-2203
Often wrong but never in doubt!