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Subject: Re: Moving Forward with EML v5.0
Congratulation to all members of the OASIS Election and Voter Services TC for reaching several v5.0 milestones. I have some questions for the TC about its initial disposition not to hold another Public Review subsequent to the Public Review which ended 10-June-2007. In particular: I have not seen any response to Mary McRae's memo of July 16, 2007 to the TC [1] citing the OASIS TC Process definitions and rules about "Substantive Changes" [2]. I understand from the published minutes of the OASIS Election and Voter Services Technical Committee Meeting of 19-June-2007 that "overall" the TC members did not feel the specification changes made in light of review were "substantive" [3]: "Overall members present were content with the latest draft and agreed that the comments suggested did not represent substantive changes and therefore felt another Public Review was unnecessary." However, as Mary's memo intimates, the OASIS TC Process has a very specific technical definition about that constitutes a "Substantive Change" -- which triggers the need for another review cycle [4]. The definition: (gg) "Substantive Change" is a change to a specification that would require a compliant application or implementation to be modified or rewritten in order to remain compliant." Did the TC use that definition of "Substantive Change" in arriving at the feeling that another Public Review was unnecessary? I am having difficulty reconciling the fact that significant changes were made in the XML schema files (at least four schema files), including numerous cases of renaming elements, adding and deleting attributes, etc. over several iterations of XML schema editing [5]. In the general case, XML schema changes will be "substantive". For example, we may contrast the XML Schema 'emlcore-v5-0.xsd' submitted [6] for Public Review (version 5.00) vs. the most recent release of this same schema version 5.05 [7]. As noted in various documents, including the published "EML v5 PUBLIC REVIEW - DISPOSITION OF COMMENTS RECEIVED" [8], and memo of 08-May-2007 [8a] the TC agreed to remove the Party element (change the name to "Supporter") add a Type on Affiliation Version 5.00 (PR) Schema in file 'emlcore-v5-0.xsd' via grep: ============================================================== <xs:element name="PartyIdentifier" type="PartyIdentifierStructure"/> <xs:complexType name="PartyIdentifierStructure"> <xs:element name="PartyName" type="xs:token"/> <xs:element name="PartyAbbreviation" type="xs:token"/> <xs:complexType name="PartyStructure"> ============================================================== Version 5.05 of the same schema file now contains no reference to 'Party', but instead attests type/element component 'Supporter' ============================================================== <xs:element name="SupporterIdentifier" type="SupporterIdentifierStructure"/> <xs:complexType name="SupporterIdentifierStructure"> <xs:element name="SupporterName" type="xs:token"/> <xs:element name="SupporterAbbreviation" type="xs:token"/> <xs:complexType name="SupporterStructure"> ============================================================== Numerous other changes to the XML Schemas have also been made, as documented (in part) by the change logs presented in the schema release of 30-Jun-2007 [7] If Company Foo developed an application (implementation) of EML v5.0 using the XML schemas and documentation for the Public Review release, the application would code operations matching names and constraints from the v5.00 XML schemas, and valid data conforming to that EML 5.00 specification as implemented could contain markup elements "PartyIdentifier", "PartyName", "PartyAbbreviation", etc. The application's documentation, error handling, UIs, and other features will naturally reflect names and constructs implied by the v5.00 XML schemas and documented in the XML schema descriptions. However, that same data matching EML v5.00 will be *invalid* according to the XML schemas of (edited) EML version 5.05; much of the application code itself (for UIs, help system) will also be made obsolete. In terms of the OASIS TC Process definition -- it seems to me -- the EML 5.05 XML Schema changes are indeed "substantive", by definition: Company Foo will need to modify (rewrite) its application to remain [become] compliant with the EML v5.05 specification schemas. If the TC disagrees, can someone kindly offer an explanation? Thanks, Robin Cover [1] http://lists.oasis-open.org/archives/election-services/200707/msg00009.html "Moving Forward with EML v5.0 - I just wanted to point out the following rules in the TC Process..." [2] http://www.oasis-open.org/committees/process.php#definitions [3] Minutes http://lists.oasis-open.org/archives/election-services/200706/msg00025.html TC Meeting Minutes (TCminutes2007_06_19.rtf) uploaded The document named TC Meeting Minutes (TCminutes2007_06_19.rtf) has been submitted by Mr. John Borras* to the OASIS Election and Voter Services TC document repository. Document Description: The minutes of TC meeting held 19 June 2007. http://www.oasis-open.org/committees/download.php/24445/TCminutes2007_06_19.rtf EML V5 COMMENTS JB outlined the standards approval process for members and said the objective following this meeting was to approve v5 as a Committee Specification and then an OASIS Standard as per the OASIS TC Process Guidelines. Members present then reviewed the comments received following the public review and in turn confirmed their acceptance or rejection of the proposed changes. The changes as follows were discussed: a. Party Affiliations - Agreed to withdraw Party and introduce a type on Affiliation b. Voter ID - Agreed to revise existing VoterID rather than having two separate elements. Also agreed the need for some commentary in the EMLCore schema and to post some localisation examples to explain how to use the ID. c. IRV/RVC - Agreed to add to VotingmethodType d. CountMetric/CountReport - Agreed to add to 510 and 110 e. Referendum Item - Agreed to implement proposal f. Internationalisation - Agreed to implement a one to many on election to item. The existing EML specification handles internationalization but it is down to each implementation to decide whether they do a single language per message or a single language per process. JB, DW and PS will update and circulate a new version of EML v5 with the changes applied to TC members for approval before asking OASIS Staff to conduct Committee Specification vote Overall members present were content with the latest draft and agreed that the comments suggested did not represent substantive changes and therefore felt another Public Review was unnecessary. [4] TC Process Section 3.2. Public Review If Substantive Changes are made to the specification after the public review, whether as a result of public review comments or from TC Member input, then the TC must conduct another review cycle. The specification may not be considered for approval by the TC as a Committee Specification until it has undergone a review cycle during which it has received no comments that result in Substantive Changes to the specification. [5] Changes to XML schemas after release of PR materials http://lists.oasis-open.org/archives/election-services/200705/msg00020.html Groups - EML 5.01 draft changes to link EML600 proposal options usage (EML-v5-0-schemas-070522.zip) uploaded. The document named EML 5.01 draft changes to link EML600 proposal options usage (EML-v5-0-schemas-070522.zip) has been submitted by Mr. David Webber to the OASIS Election and Voter Services TC document repository. Document Description: Draft changes to EML to support referendum and proposal items across 200, 300, 400 and 500 series for review. http://www.oasis-open.org/committees/download.php/24068/EML-v5-0-schemas-070522.zip http://lists.oasis-open.org/archives/election-services/200705/msg00031.html The document named EML 5.02 draft changes to add CountMetric and CountReport tracking (EML-v5-0-schemas-070525.zip) has been submitted by Mr. David Webber to the OASIS Election and Voter Services TC document repository. Document Description: Draft changes to EML core to provide a CountMetric structure for additional information regarding ValidVotes in 510 reporting. Also ReportingUnit extension to provide status for results reporting. Also added option to PollingPlace to use status mechanism. These changes are designed to support US style reporting of counting - but are extensible to suit any geographic polling hierarchy. http://www.oasis-open.org/committees/download.php/24120/EML-v5-0-schemas-070525.zip http://lists.oasis-open.org/archives/election-services/200705/msg00036.html The document named EML 5.03 draft refinement to CountMetric and CountReport tracking (EML-v5-0-schemas-070529.zip) has been submitted by Mr. David Webber to the OASIS Election and Voter Services TC document repository. Document Description: Added ability to define the CountMetrics in the EML 410 - and also to control where in the EML 510 those occur via XPath location. Fixed metric to be decimal from integer to support percentage reporting, and added to TotalCount level in 510. Provide ability in 410 to define CountMetrics and counting algorithm Id - to permit pre-definition for developers of exactly what is needed in the 510 count results tabulations. http://www.oasis-open.org/committees/download.php/24142/EML-v5-0-schemas-070529.zip http://lists.oasis-open.org/archives/election-services/200706/msg00003.html The document named EML 5.04 draft refinement to complete change requests (EML-v5-0-schemas-060629.zip) has been submitted by Mr. David Webber to the OASIS Election and Voter Services TC document repository. Document Description: Review of 5.03 compared to comments and change requests showed outstanding items - so 5.04 resolves these:- - Corrected Candidate attributes issue - Added IRV and RCV to VotingMethodType - VoterId / VoterIdentification@Id - no change (allows two approaches) http://www.oasis-open.org/committees/download.php/24274/EML-v5-0-schemas-060629.zip http://lists.oasis-open.org/archives/election-services/200706/msg00029.html http://www.oasis-open.org/committees/download.php/24516/EML-v5-0-schemas-070629.zip Subject: Groups - EML 5.05 committee draft schemas from public review change/comments requests (EML-v5-0-schemas-070629.zip) uploaded From: david@drrw.info To: election-services@lists.oasis-open.org Date: 29 Jun 2007 20:37:54 -0000 The document named EML 5.05 committee draft schemas from public review change/comments requests (EML-v5-0-schemas-070629.zip) has been submitted by Mr. David Webber to the OASIS Election and Voter Services TC document repository. Document Description: This release is intended to cover all changes relating to the public comment period and discussed at the June TC meeting. Change summary: EMLCore items: - VoterId attribute for type changed to support xsi:type approach - Referendum items structure support for 630 and 510 - Cosmetic change to declarations to make them in alphabetic sort order - Added standard OASIS required copyright and use statement text EML 630 items: - Proposal made repeatable within Election EML 410 items: - Removed CountMetric EML 110 items: - Added CountMetric http://lists.oasis-open.org/archives/election-services/200706/msg00030.html Subject: Groups - EML 5.05 committee draft schemas from public review change/comments requests (EML-v5-0-schemas-070629.zip) uploaded From: david@drrw.info To: election-services@lists.oasis-open.org Date: 30 Jun 2007 16:57:38 -0000 Added Change logs using DeltaXML Change summary: EMLCore items: - VoterId attribute for type changed to support xsi:type approach - Referendum items structure support for 630 and 510 - Cosmetic change to declarations to make them in alphabetic sort order - Added standard OASIS required copyright and use statement text EML 630 items: - Proposal made repeatable within Election EML 410 items: - Removed CountMetric EML 110 items: - Added CountMetric http://www.oasis-open.org/committees/download.php/24519/EML-v5-0-schemas-070629.zip [6] specification v5.0 as submitted for Public Review http://lists.oasis-open.org/archives/election-services/200704/msg00007.html http://lists.oasis-open.org/archives/tc-announce/200704/msg00014.html [7] EML 5.05 committee draft schemas http://lists.oasis-open.org/archives/election-services/200706/msg00030.html http://www.oasis-open.org/committees/download.php/24519/EML-v5-0-schemas-070629.zip Subject: Groups - EML 5.05 committee draft schemas from public review change/comments requests (EML-v5-0-schemas-070629.zip) uploaded From: david@drrw.info To: election-services@lists.oasis-open.org Date: 30 Jun 2007 16:57:38 -0000 Added Change logs using DeltaXML Change summary: EMLCore items: - VoterId attribute for type changed to support xsi:type approach - Referendum items structure support for 630 and 510 - Cosmetic change to declarations to make them in alphabetic sort order - Added standard OASIS required copyright and use statement text EML 630 items: - Proposal made repeatable within Election EML 410 items: - Removed CountMetric EML 110 items: - Added CountMetric [8] http://lists.oasis-open.org/archives/election-services/200707/msg00000.html EML V5 FINAL CHANGES You will see from below that David has now posted the final schema changes on the TC website. In addition to those I'm attaching a simple text Changes Log to supplement the technical one included in David's posting plus a Disposition of Comments document following the Public Review. Will you please take time over the next week to review all these and satisfy yourselves that they capture all the changes that we discussed at the recent TC meeting. Please let me have a note of any concerns by Monday 8th July. After that date I will proceed to ask OASIS staff to take us through the next stage of the approvals process. I will complete the changes to the supporting documents, ie the Data Dictionary and the Process and Schema Definitions in next few days to complement the changes noted above. Regards John http://lists.oasis-open.org/archives/election-services/200707/doc00000.doc = 1310476990-EML v5 Public Review Comments - Disposition.doc http://lists.oasis-open.org/archives/election-services/200707/doc00001.doc = 69059534-EML v5 Changes Log.rtf [8a] Change "Party" to "Supporter" http://lists.oasis-open.org/archives/election-services-comment/200705/msg00000.html The EML usage of party and affiliation is misleading compared to the US election practice and terminology. To resolve this conflict suggested course of action is: a) Rename everything that is labelled "Party" to "Supporter" instead. b) Add an additional element to Affiliation to indicate a Type token. This then can be extensible to include Party and everything else - Party, Union, Incumbent, and so on. c) Make this change in EMLcore so it is reflected everywhere it is needed.
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