Re: [xtm-wg] Questions on topic maps

[Steve Pepper <pepper@ontopia.net>]

At 03:30 20.07.2001 +0100, Ivan Uemlianin wrote:
>[1] <topic scope="biology"><name>dysfunction</name> ... </topic>
>
>This is different from [2].
>
>[2] <topic><name scope="biology">dysfunction</name> ... </topic>

Whether or not these two are different depends only on what "..."
contains. The following are identical:

 [1] <topic scope="biology"><name>dysfunction</name></topic>
 [2] <topic><name scope="biology">dysfunction</name></topic>

ISO 13250 is very clear (see clause 5.2.1, and especially note 22) that
the use of a [scope] attribute on a <topic> element is a *syntactic
shorthand*. The only things that can be scoped are assignments of topic
characteristics, not topics themselves.

>Given some UI and accessing this topic map from outside the scope "biology",
>topic2 would show up with no characteristics, whereas topic1 would be
>invisible and inaccessible.  I feel it is important to allow this
>distinction.

I'm afraid it isn't possible. In topic maps, a topic is simply the
sum of its characteristics. It has no independent existence.

>My overall concern is that concepts generally have an interpretation only
>within some context.  I am not saying here that 'occurrences' of concepts
>always have a context (which is of course true), but that concepts
>themselves are only valid within a context.

If a topic has an occurrence in the scope 'X' then that topic will have
an interpretation in that context. And vice-versa: No occurrence, no
interpretation.

>When is a topic map 'finished'?  Surely any topic map in use will be having
>topics added to and removed from it?  Is a topic map supposed to be a static
>object?

Of course not, but the problem you seem to be alluding to only exists
in the time-space between the creation of a topic and the assignment
of its first characteristic(s) in the scope(s) within which you want
that topic to have interpretation. That characteristic need be nothing
more than a name, which is normally something you create at the same
time as the topic itself, so I don't see the big problem.

I wonder if the problem here is practical or conceptual?

Steve

--
Steve Pepper, Chief Executive Officer <pepper@ontopia.net>
Convenor, ISO/IEC JTC1/SC34/WG3  Editor, XTM (XML Topic Maps)
Ontopia AS, Waldemar Thranes gt. 98, N-0175 Oslo, Norway.
http://www.ontopia.net/ phone: +47-23233080 GSM: +47-90827246


To Post a message, send it to:   xtm-wg@yahooGroups.com

To Unsubscribe, send a blank message to: xtm-wg-unsubscribe@yahooGroups.com 

Your use of Yahoo! Groups is subject to http://docs.yahoo.com/info/terms/