Discussing the xml:id approach & the concept of binding elements

[Svante Schubert <Svante.Schubert@Sun.COM>]

Hi Patrick,

I would like to discuss with you, and those who would like to argue on 
it's construction, the xml:id approach.
The following four scenarios seems interesting for design, especially 
when later compared against RDFa:

Scenario 1: A certain part of content  is used as well as RDF object and 
subject.
Scenario 2: Multiple semantics are referring to the same part of content.
Scenario 3: Some parts of content (with various xml:ids) is used as one 
RDF object or subject.
Scenario 4: Defining metadata restrictions as, an invitation have to 
provide a date and a location.


BTW what do you think of decoupling the xml:id (from the content) with 
the metadata, by using a meta:binding similar to XForms?
The benefit, if content areas - where metadata refer to - are merged and 
therefore split, the meta:data is still referring to the id of the 
binding. By this the metadata don't have to be changed.
As in the OOo case multiple plugins taking care of metadata this seems 
reasonable.

(Note: The example neglects the RDF part, which refers to the xml:id of 
meta:bindings.)

meta* part
=======

<meta:bindings xml:id="semantic1">
   <meta:binding nodeset="content.xml#id1"/>
</meta:bindings>

<meta:bindings xml:id="semantic2">
   <meta:binding nodeset="content.xml#id2"/>
</meta:bindings>

content.xml
========

<text:span xml:id="id1">aa bb </text:span>
<text:span xml:id="id2">cc dd</text:span>

**********************************************************
is merging with
**********************************************************

meta* part
=======

<meta:bindings xml:id="semantic3">
   <meta:binding nodeset="content.xml#id3"/>
</meta:bindings>


content.xml
========

<text:span>aa </text:span>
<text:span xml:id="id3">bb cc </text:span>
<text:span>dd</text:span>

**********************************************************
To the following:
**********************************************************

meta* part
=======

<meta:bindings xml:id="semantic1">
      <meta:binding nodeset="content.xml#idA"/>
      <meta:binding nodeset="content.xml#idB"/>
</meta:bindings>

<meta:bindings xml:id="semantic2">
      <meta:binding nodeset="content.xml#idC"/>
      <meta:binding nodeset="content.xml#idD"/>
</meta:bindings>

<meta:bindings xml:id="semantic3">
      <meta:binding nodeset="content.xml#idB"/>
      <meta:binding nodeset="content.xml#idC"/>
</meta:bindings>


content.xml
========

<text:span xml:id="idA">aa </text:span>
<text:span xml:id="idB">bb </text:span>
<text:span xml:id="idC">cc </text:span>
<text:span xml:id="idD">dd</text:span>

Best regards,
Svante