RE: Why Doesn't IE5 use the DTD to Validate?

[keshlam@xxxxxxxxxx]

Might be a better topic for the XML mailing list than the XSL list, but I'll
throw in my two bits anyway...

I agree there's a distinction between not reading the DTD, reading it but using
it only for expansion/defaulting/etc, and genuinely validating. It's useful for
parsers to support all three options.

The issue may be one of phrasing more than anything else. A validating parser,
by definition, is one that validates. If it only validates on demand, or when
invoked via a specific wrapper, or when a configuration switch is explicitly
set... then it's only a validating parser when run in that mode. The
documentation needs to be _very_ clear about whether validation is the default
or not and how to obtain the other options. ("WebWonder includes a validating
parser, but normally does not perform validation. This can be changed by...")
That will avoid a significant amount of acrimony. And, yes, if you have multiple
modes available you should definitely allow the user to decide which one(s) suit
their needs -- as default, and possibly on a file-by-file basis as well.

"I thought you were open 24 hours!"
"Not in a row..."        -- Steve Wright
______________________________________
Joe Kesselman  / IBM Research
Unless stated otherwise, all opinions are solely those of the author.



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