Hi Paul,
Your observations are correct. XML editors currently need to use a
combination of topic-level atts and the <dita> element to identify DITA
documents.
Adding DITAArchVersion to the <dita> element would slightly simplify the
process of identifying DITA documents. Although, there are clearly
already workarounds to this issue if you check the topic-level atts.
During our original pass on the feature set, we supported 12052 as a
simple change. We will continue to support it. I don't see how if
will have any major architectural effects (like the 12051 proposal).
Yas
> -----Original Message-----
> From: Grosso, Paul [mailto:]
> Sent: Tuesday, April 17, 2007 9:23 AM
> To:
> Subject: [dita] 12005 supports 12052--adding DITAArchVersion
> to the dita element
>
> In our short list, I see:
>
> 12005 Recognizing DITA Documents
>
> I read the thread referenced there (it is broken into two
> parts in the archive, so you need to look for two starts to
> the thread).
>
> It sounds very much like Paul Prescod was trying to say the
> same thing I was saying in my argument for adding
> DITAArchVersion to the dita element. So two DITA editor
> vendors both seem to see a similar need.
>
> ErikH answers PaulP that the DITAArchVersion attribute should
> give him what he wants. Erik goes on to say (about DITA
> document elements that have the DITAArchVersion attribute):
>
> The sole exception is the <dita> element, which has an odd
> role because it has no semantics and merely contains a list
> of topics.
> Because the <dita> element cannot be specialized, it's name
> cannot be changed. If someone wanted to make the case that,
> for convenience and consistency, the <dita> element should
> also take the [DITAArchVersion] attribute, I could buy that.
>
> I understand Eliot's points about the fact that you cannot
> infer a document's doctype from its document element, but I
> don't think that is the issue here. Besides, Eliot has voted
> for 12052 (adding the DITAArchVersion attribute to the dita element).
>
> And reading the thread for 12005, it doesn't sound like PaulP
> changed his desire for a DITAArchVersion attribute on the
> dita element.
>
> So reading 12005, I see even more support for 12052.
>
> paul
>
