Re: SAX: parser features (was SAX: two alternatives for namespaces)

John Cowan (cowan@locke.ccil.org)
Wed, 29 Jul 1998 10:55:54 -0400


Ron Bourret wrote:

> I don't think the same situation applies to SAX. SAX is still fairly young and
> we have a better chance to dictate/agree on required features, so we should
> avoid optional features as long as possible.

Within XML 1.0, there are various things that non-validating parsers
are allowed to do (or not do). A way of querying any particular parser
to find out whether it does those things or not would be very useful.

For example, a parser is allowed to disregard attribute types and
claim that all attributes are CDATA. If your application depends on
getting ID and IDREF types correct, you could query a parser to see
if it can do that --- and if not, tell the user to pick another parser.

So these are not so much SAX features as XML features.

-- 
John Cowan	http://www.ccil.org/~cowan		cowan@ccil.org
	You tollerday donsk?  N.  You tolkatiff scowegian?  Nn.
	You spigotty anglease?  Nnn.  You phonio saxo?  Nnnn.
		Clear all so!  'Tis a Jute.... (Finnegans Wake 16.5)