draw:name attribute mess (ODF all versions)

["Alex Brown" <alexb@griffinbrown.co.uk>]

Dear all,

The draw:name attribute is overloaded in a confusing way, and needs to be split into several distinct attributes.

We are told (18.204)

"This attribute specifies names that are used for referencing either the elements where they appear or styles to be applied."

However later we are told (18.204.21):

"The draw:name attribute specifies the name of a runtime parameter."

and the use of this attribute to specify a style name reference is not subsequently mentioned.

To restore order:

1. If it is desired to have a mechanism which *identifies* (or "names") elements, xml:id should be used. (Are there uniqueness constraints on draw:name as is?)

2. If it is desired to *refer* to something identified elsewhere, like a defined style, a distinct attribute should be used (maybe draw-style-reference).

3. Runtime parameters should not be shoe-horned into the draw:name attribute.

4. Note also the error described in an editorial note at 18.204.28.

The schema and spec should be corrected accordingly.

- Alex.

--
Alex Brown
Convenor ISO/IEC JTC 1 SC 34 WG 1; editor ISO/IEC 19757-5 (Extensible Types)