I am very interested in automatic Typing of information components and
think that this will be a very active area for the XML community.
XML(SGML) entities (NOTATION) have traditionally used PUBLIC and FPIs
(Formal Public Identifier) for adding type information. This works if there
is a registry of FPIs for this purpose. Without it is not much use. My
impression - and I'm happy to be corrected - is that there are few useful
FPIs for Typing objects.
Using a SYSTEM Id is subject to the problem of permanence and uniqueness of
URLs.
>
>* The XLL mechanism (well, I should say the MIME mechanism really) is
>based on the entity being self-identifying as to type (aided by
>any additional attributes you like on the linking element).
Unfortunately, not all targets of XLL HREFs will be self-identifying. This
is true of local files and not-very-smart-servers. It is therefore useful
for the author to be able to add MIME types to the target.
As yet, MIME is not part of the XLL mechanism. I wish it was, and keep
squeaking for it. If it isn't I suggest we use XDEV:MIME as a FUA
'frequently used attribute' in XML-LINKs.
P.
Peter Murray-Rust, Director Virtual School of Molecular Sciences, domestic
net connection
VSMS http://www.nottingham.ac.uk/vsms, Virtual Hyperglossary
http://www.venus.co.uk/vhg