Comments on ebXML Messaging Services 3.0 Conformance Profiles PublicReview 01

[William Cox <wtcox@CoxSoftwareArchitects.com>]

I'm offering these comments on your specification as a member of the OASIS Technical Advisory Board.

Comment numbers in square brackets. References are to the PDF.

[1] Technical Lines 30 and references

I'm confused by normative references in a non-normative supplement. This could be explained better in the abstract and the introduction.

[2] Minor Editorial

Line 177 last characters are "RM V23" which should be "RM V2/3" to be consistent with the rest.
Line 178 change "excepts" to "except".
Line 228 delete "to be considered"
Line 237 delete "an already pervasive"
Table after line 253 Security, no bullet at second line.
Line 279 change "Fore" to "For".
Line 360 keep table heading with table.
Line 400 table V2 Reliability and others - why does font change in middle? I presume this is to match some format in another document, but it's confusing.

[3] Technical lines 201-203ff

The keyword MUST is used in ordinary text; also a normative requirement in a non-normative specification is confusing. RFC2119 does not require that the case be all upper. See lines 269, 411, and do a global search.

The nature of the apparent requirement e.g. Reliability in table after line 253 is diminished by not making clear the normative and required nature in keeping with the terminology. In the Security section of that table, bullet four, "attachments required." is also inconsistent with typical statements.

[4] Technical Line 412ff

This is well chosen - good job.

[5] Technical line 450-456
Spacing is strange; a URI is generally done in one of the shaded format.  AFter Line 455 add "but such profile is not defined here."

[6] Appendix A Table after 482

There is no guidance on how to define mandatory, optional etc. Should this have a reference?  If not, it should be better described as to what values and content.

--
William Cox
Email: wtcox@CoxSoftwareArchitects.com
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