The terms used in XML Files often require specific datatype formats to assist in interoperability with other formats.
For example, a date can be in the format YYYY-MM-DD (ISO 8601). If no other formats are to be permitted ... "three weeks after my cat's birthday", etc. ... then the XML File must be validated against a schema (XSD File) or Document Type Definition (DTD). Validation serves two (equally important) functions: 1) The date is "understandable" to other applications, and 2) No third-parties will, in the interest of user friendliness substitute their own cat's birthdays without warning. That would be wrong, and unprofessional.
All XML is plain text, but may include binary segments. Behind the scenes, this is non-negotiable, and there is no technical impediment to high level transparency.
And
2. The Language Tag Language tags are used to help identify languages, whether spoken, written, signed, or otherwise signaled, for the purpose of communication. This includes constructed and artificial languages, but excludes languages not intended primarily for human communication, such as programming languages.
Validation is involked in root node of an XML File with properties in the XSI (Schema Instance) Namespace. On some small screen and Mobile Devices, the editing of large XML Documents may prove awkward, if not impossible and text editing facilities may be wildly impractical. However, equipment limitations should not dictate Specification limitations and an archive of an XML File can always be contained in one "envelope" regardless of the (public access) external files which may be needed for validation.
Test (NASA 2011 StratML Part 1), non-standard components redacted. This file is both valid XML and valid StratML Part 1.
Validation Trace (Validation Errors: none)
Public Access Schema. http://xml.gov/stratml/references/StrategicPlan.xsd
A sample Archive/Envelope (XHTML 1.0). StratML is validated in place (Validation Trace ca. Line 75).
Test (NASA 2011 StratML Part 2), non-standard components redacted. This file is both valid XML and valid StratML Part 2.
Validation Trace (Validation Errors: none)
Public Access Schema. http://xml.gov/stratml/references/PerformancePlanOrReport.xsd
A sample Archive/Envelope (XHTML 1.0). StratML is validated in place (Validation Trace ca. Line 75).
Since validation is involked by the XSI Namespace, a local machine copy of the XSD Schema is identical to the XML public copy. StratML Documents are intended for the Public Domain and Public Access. Still, annotated drafts can be exchanged between editors for small or proposed changes, prepublication. XFORMS make possible editing on-line. For manual editing, the file may be validated against a local schema (XHTML 1.0 in this case) which has been modified to accept an embeded block level XML element. Normally only local validation is practical in this case, but in Bring Your Own Device (BYOD) and Work From Home situations, in-house Source Control and local validation can replace complex, centralized, generalized Firewalls.
There are several advantages to retaining the manual editing option.
- Manual editing of Plain Text is completely transparent and does not rely on continuing education to overcome Social Engineering pitfalls. New ways of visualizing data is what the world wide web has always been about. But the half-life of a STEM graduate has always been remarkably short. In the coming years we face a related problem with people in general. Software use habits which may be quite harmless now may turn harmful in the future. Linked Data is not immune since reliablity depends upon a huge existing store of unchanging relations. The CS Graduate has just spent twenty years learning buzz words half of which will be unrecognizable in five years. That is a problem, but The Darwin Awards provide ample evidence humans need no assistance from predators anyway.
- Documents may be weeks or months in preparation with frequent changes. Version Control may be an unnecessary complication.
- An individual copy may be marked up with comments and Tagged Marginalia, which can be automatically redacted. A sanitized copy may be produced non-destructively.
- While in preparation, the document copies in an archive are considered Copyrighted materials. As such, fragmentation and indexing of unpublished manuscripts to enhance online searchs should not be an issue for debate, and it is clear that "LIKE" does not imply endorsement, prepublication.
- Even Draft Publications, and perhaps especially Draft Publications will have the benefit of confidentiality during initial deliberations.