[sc34wg3] Questions on N0396: (6) topic map item (how do I find all occurrences?)

[Jan Algermissen]

Lars Marius Garshol wrote:
> 
> * Jan Algermissen
> |
> | Since there is no [occurrences] property on a topic map item, does
> | that mean that conforming applications need not provide a way to
> | find all occurrences in a topic map?
> 
> Nope. You can easily find all occurrences by traversing all topic
> items and gathering together the occurrences found in their
> [occurrences] properties.

Ok, I see what your thinking is (I hope).

But then I have another question:

Besides the [reifier] property, all properties are NOT
computed ones with the only exception of [roles played]
on the topic item.

What is the rationale behind providing the role playings
information as a computed property but not the others I
have been talking about (e.g. all occurrences of a topic map item).

Since the properties that do not provide the 'essential connections'
(the connections that preserve the structure of the topic map) don't
actually have any effect (see conformance discussion), I wonder why THIS
property is there?

Jan

> 
> | Does it mean that implementations are free to choose how they
> | provide such information?
> 
> As the conformance clause says, they are free to choose how they
> provide *any* topic map information, so long as it has a clear
> correspondence to the SAM.
> 
> | Doesn't that provide less interoperability than the SAM could
> | provide? Is that a good idea?
> 
> Well, this is where things get tricky. What interoperability *can* SAM
> provide? I'm gradually coming round to the view that it can't provide
> any interoperability at all on its own. Only syntaxes,
> query/constraint languages, and APIs can be interoperable, really.
> 
> This is why I suggested taking out the conformance clause in the SAM.
> 
> | The same applies to names and I do think that finding all names in a
> | topic map belongs to the most basic interactions with topic maps.
> 
> Same response there, really. (And for variant names, and for
> association roles, and for locators.)
> 
> --
> Lars Marius Garshol, Ontopian         <URL: http://www.ontopia.net >
> GSM: +47 98 21 55 50                  <URL: http://www.garshol.priv.no >
> 
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-- 
Jan Algermissen                           http://www.topicmapping.com
Consultant & Programmer	                  http://www.gooseworks.org