[ubl-ndrsc] RT vs. CCT comparison

["Eve L. Maler" <eve.maler@sun.com>]

Just to have all the information in one place and see what's same vs. 
different, I collated all the definitions of the RTs and CCTs in CCTS 
V1.8.  What do those who are experienced in the ways of CCTS think?

	Eve

==================================
Analysis and conclusions:

Identical:
- Amount and Amount.Type
- Graphic and Graphic.Type
- Indicator and Indicator.Type
- Picture and Picture.Type

Unaccountably different in wording but meaning the same thing:
- Measure and Measure.Type

Essentially identical except for mention of supplementary components:
- Code and Code.Type
- DateTime and DateTime.Type
- Identifier and Identifier.Type (but Identifier carries a warning
   about when to use Name instead)
- Quantity and Quantity.Type

Specialization/generalization:
- Date vs. DateTime.Type
- Name vs. Text.Type
- Percent vs. Numeric.Type
- Rate vs. Numeric.Type

It seems to me that the "representation term" distinction is a thin one 
at best.  We have anecdotal evidence that applying certain ones, like 
Identifier, is tricky because if you don't want to use the structural 
aspects of Identifier.Type to something that you consider an identifier, 
you're hosed.  But for the vast majority of these, a unification seems 
in order.

(Even for the potentially tough cases like Identifier, I think you'd 
need evidence that it helps message processing *somehow* in order to 
justify providing an extra label of counter-intuitive RT assignments 
(e.g., being able to say that something with NameType is also an 
"identifier" RT).  The only reason to make a semantic distinction, ever, 
is that you want to do something with it.  Do we have evidence that it's 
helpful to give anything this dual nature?)

If a unification were undertaken, the specialization/generalization 
cases would need to be considered.  Right now there's no notion of 
"inheritance"; you'd need to add it to account for essential commonalities.

Here's a CCT hierarchy that would be reasonable to me to do as XSD 
types, just done off the top of my head with a quick comparison of 
supplementary components:

NumericType
   AmountType
   MeasureType
     QuantityType
   PercentType
   RateType
GraphicType
   PictureType
IndicatorType
CodeType
DateType
   DateTimeType
IdentifierType
TextType
   NameType

==================================
Actual text of definitions:

========
Amount definitions:

RT: A number of monetary units specified in a currency where the unit of
currency is explicit or implied.

CCT: A number of monetary units specified in a currency where the unit
of currency is explicit or implied.

========
Code definitions:

RT: A character string (letters, figures or symbols) that for brevity
and / or language independence may be used to represent or replace a
definitive value or text of an attribute. Codes usually are maintained
in code lists per attribute type (e.g. colour).

CCT: A character string (letters, figures or symbols) that for brevity
and/or language independence may be used to represent or replace a
definitive value or text of an attribute together with relevant
supplementary information.

========
Date definitions:

RT (Date): A day within a particular calendar year (ISO 8601).

RT (DateTime): A particular point in the progression of time (ISO 8601).

CCT (DateTime): A particular point in the progression of time together
with relevant supplementary information.

========
Graphic definitions:

RT: A diagram, graph, mathematical curves, or similar representation.

CCT: A diagram, graph, mathematical curves, or similar representation.

========
Identifier definitions:

RT: A character string used to establish the identity of, and
distinguish uniquely, one instance of an object within an identification
scheme from all other objects within the same scheme. [Note: Type shall
not be used when a person or an object is identified by its name. In
this case the Representation Term ?Name? shall be used.]

CCT: A character string to identify and distinguish uniquely, one
instance of an object in an identification scheme from all other objects
within the same scheme together with relevant supplementary information.

========
Indicator definitions:

RT: A list of two, and only two, values that indicate a condition such
as on/off; true/false etc. (synonym: ?Boolean?).

CCT: A list of two, and only two, values, which indicate a condition
such as on/off; true/false etc. (synonym: ?Boolean?).

========
Measure definitions:

RT: A numeric value determined by measuring an object. Measures are
specified with a unit of measure. The applicable unit of measure is
taken from UN/ECE Rec. 20.

CCT: The size, volume, mass, amount or scope derived by performing a
physical measure together with relevant supplementary information.

========
Name definitions:

RT: A word or phrase that constitutes the distinctive designation of a
person, place, thing or concept.

CCT: (Name RT is of Text.Type, which is defined as A character string
with or without a specified language.)

========
Percent definitions:

RT: A rate expressed in hundredths between two values that have the same
unit of measure.

CCT: (Percent RT is of Numeric.Type, which is defined as A
representation of a number.)

========
Picture definitions:

RT: A visual representation of a person, object, or scene.

CCT: A visual representation of a person, object, or scene.

========
Quantity definitions:

RT: A number of non-monetary units. It is associated with the indication
of objects. Quantities need to be specified with a unit of quantity.

CCT: A number of non-monetary units together with relevant supplementary
information.

========
Rate definitions:

RT: A quantity or amount measured with respect to another measured
quantity or amount, or a fixed or appropriate charge, cost or value e.g.
US Dollars per hour, US Dollars per EURO, kilometre per litre, etc.
(Taken from V1.6; PDF for V1.8 is broken.)

CCT: (Rate RT is of Numeric.Type, which is defined as A representation
of a number.)

==================================

-- 
Eve Maler                                    +1 781 442 3190
Sun Microsystems XML Technology Center   eve.maler @ sun.com