[sc34wg3] Structuring the topic map standards

[Steve Pepper]

In N323 the content of the new 13250 is proposed to be structured
as follows:

   *  0: A guide to the structure of the standard
   *  X: The Standard Application Model
   *  X: The Reference Model
   *  X: The XML Topic Maps syntax (XTM)
   *  X: The HyTime Topic Maps syntax (HyTM)
   *  X: Canonicalization of topic maps

In N372, the following structure is suggested:

   * ISO 13250: Topic Maps Basic concepts.
                Annexes for XTM, HyTM.
   * ISO xxxxx: Topic Maps Data Model (SAM)
                Annexes for deserialization of XTM (and HyTM), and
                mapping to Topic Maps Reference Model.
   * ISO xxxxx: Topic Maps Information Aggregation Model (RM)
   * ISO xxxxx: Topic Maps Conformance Canonicalization syntax.
   * ISO 18048: Topic Maps Query Language
   * ISO 19756: Topic Maps Constraint Language

Ignoring the actual names to be used (especially for the SAM and RM),
please can we have a focused discussion of whether this structure

1) makes sense at all
2) is optimal from the point of view of writing the specification
3) is optimal from the point of view of reading the specification

Thanks.

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