> Date: Fri, 17 Oct 1997 13:55:43 +0100
> From: Paul Miller <[log in to unmask]>
>
> Simon Cox wrote:
> > My understanding was that a syntax for indicating spans
> > (disjoint or not) within a single (sub-)element is
> > intended, rather than using repeating (sub-)elements
> > min/max etc - ie the contents of a single DC.Date might
> > include several date/times linked with suitable operators
> > (eg "-" , "," , "..." etc) - this would be comparable with
> > the proposed DC.Coverage.Polygon which has multiple
> > vertices.
>
> Yes, I understood that to be the current wish of the date group, too. I
> understood it, though, as their current RECOMMENDATION within an ongoing
> debate, rather than a final decision.
Yes, I believe Dirk's explanation and Paul's reminder that this
was a recommendation accurately reflect the thinking at DC-5.
It's clear that it makes sense now to try to harmonize
the Date recommendation with the work of the Coverage group.
I'd summarize the harmonization issues as follows:
Separate start and end elements (t.min, t.max) have the distinct
advantage that components are broken out in advance, simplifying
the date syntax. It's less compact and not optimal for human viewing,
but parsers will recognize the end points instantly.
An integrated range (ie, in one element) complicates the syntax (if it can
be accommodated at all in the 8601 profile), but gets around the problem
of matching range endpoints; separate end point elements will likely
require new syntax rules to prevent confusion around repeating ranges.
Other considerations: Creating an integrated range syntax will be an
important step in choosing between the above two approaches. According
to Simon, the Coverage.Polygon already has a syntax that accommodates
multiple end points, so maybe that's a place to start.
-John
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