1. Current Actions

2 Nils and Defaults.
Review draft v9 (to be sent soon)

3. using textStringPadCharacter with charRef '%#r' on multi-byte encoding
Not discussed

textStringPadCharacter

DFDL String literal

The padding character or byte value that is used when justifying or trimming text elements.

A pad character can be specified using DFDL entities.
A pad byte value must be specified using the %#r entity.

DFDL validation rules
- if a pad byte value is specified when lengthUnits='characters' then the encoding must be a fixed-width encoding.
- if a pad character is specified when lengthUnits='bytes' then the pad character must be a single-byte character.

If a pad byte value is specified when lengthUnits='characters' then padding and trimming must be applied
using an array of N pad byte values, where N is the width of a character in the fixed-width encoding.

Annotation: dfdl:element, dfdl:simpleType

Would adding fillByte to dfdl:padChar enumeration make it clearer.
padChar is a pad character (%#r not allowed)
fillByte is a fill byte

4. nilIndicatorPath and nilIndicatorIndex properties
These properties seem a bit of an anomaly. Tim has suggested they can be simplified.
Tim had emaled Mike with a proposal and Steve had responded with 3 alternatives
1) Leave things as they are, perhaps renaming 'nilIndicator' to 'indicator'

2) Collapse nilIndicatorPath and nilIndicatorIndex to a single property. It means the path is repeated, but it makes nils consistent with length and occurs. For all, you can always use a string variable to hold the constant part of the path and concatenate with the index. And if we improve usability in a future DFDL release, we would improve it for nils, lengths and occurs at the same time.

3) Drop the properties for 1.0 altogether on the grounds that it is a rare case. I've never seen such a format, but we know Mike has.
Not discussed.

5. Alignment enumerations when dfdl:lengthUnits = 'bits'
When alignmentUnits='bits', the rule that alignment must be 1,2,4,8 etc or multiple of 2 looks rather hard to justify.
We should either
a) remove the rule entirely and allow any postiive integer > 1 or
b) make the rule apply only when alignmentUnits='bytes'

6. Semantics of 'fixed'

7. Clarify the specification of error reporting from a DFDL processor
- section 2.3 needs to be updated

8 Asserts and discriminators
- specify the scope of forward references. Must be downward-only. The expression must be resolvable by the time the component on which it is positioned goes out of scope - otherwise it is a processing error.

9 Expressions
Discuss error behaviour when evaluating an expression in various contexts
- All properties:
wrong type returned : schema definition error
exception when evaluating expression : schema definition error
referenced variables/paths not available : schema definition error
- Properties which allow a forward reference
referenced variables/paths not available : no error. DFDL processor continues processing until the expression result is available, then acts on the result.

10. Grammar for DFDL expression
- currently allows multiple predicates on a single expression. Sounds as if this was unintended.

Current Actions:

No
Action

066
Investigate format for defining test cases
25/11:IBM to see if it is possible to publish its test case format.
04/12: no update
...
17/02: IBM is willing in principle to publish the test case format and some of the test cases. May need some time to build a 'compliance suite'
24/03: No progress
03/03: Discussions have been taking place on the subset of tests that will be provided.
10/03: work is progressing
17/03: work is progressing
31/03: work is progressing
14/04: And XML test case format has been defined and is being tested.
21/04. Schema for TDML defined. Need to define how this and the test cases will be made public
05/05: Work still progressing
12/05: Work still progressing
02/06: Work still progressing on technical and legal considerations
16/06: work continues
23/06: work continues
30/06: work continues
07/07: work continues

085
ALL: publicize Public comments phase to ensure a good review..
14/04: see minutes
21/04: Press release, OMG and other standards bodies.
05/05: Alan and Steve H have contacted other standards bodies. Will ask them to add comments on spec
15/05: still no public comments
02/06: No public comments
16/06: Public comments period has ended with no external comments. Alan had posted changes made in draft 041. Steve suggested send a note to the WG highlighting these changes. Steve also suggested requesting an extension as other IBM groups may review. We discussed whether this was necessary as changes will need to be made during the implementation phase anyway. Alan to ask OGF what the process is for changes post public comment.
23/06: Still no comments. Alan will contact OGF to understand the rest of the process.
30/06: Alan has emailed Joel asking what the process is now public comment period is over andcan we update the published version with WG updates. No response yet.
07/07: No response. Alan will chase up

086
AP: Nils and Defaults during unparsing - update table
31/03: TK to documetn use cases for parsing
14/04: Investigate new property to control empty string behaviour.
21/04: After investigation a new property is not required. New rules developed and tables updated.
Need examples of complexTypes to confirm tables apply.
Review Nils, defaulting spec section.
05/05: Discussed defaulting complex elements. Tables updated but need to add terminator.
SH; to confirm WMD behaviour when infoset item has no value on unparsing
Need to describe defaulting choices.
15/05: More discussion. Alan updating sections
26/05: Discussed draft updates. Stephanie to confirm asserts do not make an element required.
Alan will update draft.. All: review rest of draft.
02/06: Alan updated description. Please review.
Discussed Stephanie's example using discriminators. Decided no changes needed.
16/05: went through Steves comments. Steve to update draft.
23/06: Steve's updates to the rules discussed. See minutes. Rest of document needs updating.
30/06: Discussed Alans updates. Some corrections. Alan will send out updated copy for review before next call.
07/07: Discussed Alan updates and Tim and Steve's comments. Still some corrections and updates.

088
define semantics of choiceKind 'fixedLength'
31/03: TK to provide definition of calculable length.
Investigate PL/I varchars and Cobol occurs dependingon.
14/04Tim had distributed a document starting the definition of calculable length for the longest choice member.
Alan had done some investigation of COBOL occurs depending on and when used in the working section of a program then the maximum storage was reserved but when used in the linkage section the dependent number was uses. We need to understand how the WMB COBOL importer deals with ODO.
21/04: Need to define 'calculable length' and WMB importer ODO behaviour.
05/05: TK: Still need definition of calculable length.
SKK: WMB COBOL imported behaviour with ODO
15/05: Suman sent an expmle of an imported Cobol ODo which suggested that the maximum space was reserved. He will extend the example.
02/06: no progress
16/06: no progress
23/06: no progress
30/06: Alan looked at Tim's description of calculable length and suggested that that real use case may be much simpler. If real use case is COBOL and C importers then it would be cleaner to require the 'fixed length' to be specified on the enclosing complex element and remove choiceKind 'fixed length'. Ask Suman is COBOL and C importers can be enhance to provide length on cpmplex element.
07/07: Steve had proposed 5 possible approaches to supporting main use case.
i) Change the importer to add a parent element for each group. Con: This changes the logical model by inserting an extra level.
ii) Allow dfdl:length to be carried on embedded xs:choice (along with dfdl:lengthUnits & dfdl:lengthKind).
iii) New dfdl:choiceLength property to be carried on embedded xs:choice (always bytes).
iv) dfdl:choiceKind as today. Con: length from TD model is lost and must be recalculated.
v) dfdl:choiceKind but with limitations to make the calculation easier. Con: length from TD model is lost and must be recalculated.
Agreed a modified version of iii)
dfdl:choiceKind becomes dfdl:choiceLengthKind with emuns 'implicit' (length of selected branch) and 'explicit' ( length specified by dfd;choiceLength)
New property dfdl:choiceLength

096
AP: using textStringPadCharacter with charRef '%#r' on multi-byte encoding
07/07: not discussed

097
nilIndicatorPath and nilIndicatorIndex properties
07/07: Tim had emaled Mike with a proposal and Steve had responded with 3 alternatives
1) Leave things as they are, perhaps renaming 'nilIndicator' to 'indicator'

2) Collapse nilIndicatorPath and nilIndicatorIndex to a single property. It means the path is repeated, but it makes nils consistent with length and occurs. For all, you can always use a string variable to hold the constant part of the path and concatenate with the index. And if we improve usability in a future DFDL release, we would improve it for nils, lengths and occurs at the same time.

3) Drop the properties for 1.0 altogether on the grounds that it is a rare case. I've never seen such a format, but we know Mike has.
Not discussed.

099
Splitting the specification in simpler sections.
07/07: Steve sent a proposal but not discussed. Alan will arrange a separate call.

Regards

Alan Powell

Development - MQSeries, Message Broker, ESB
IBM Software Group, Application and Integration Middleware Software
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No	Action
066	Investigate format for defining test cases 25/11:IBM to see if it is possible to publish its test case format. 04/12: no update ... 17/02: IBM is willing in principle to publish the test case format and some of the test cases. May need some time to build a 'compliance suite' 24/03: No progress 03/03: Discussions have been taking place on the subset of tests that will be provided. 10/03: work is progressing 17/03: work is progressing 31/03: work is progressing 14/04: And XML test case format has been defined and is being tested. 21/04. Schema for TDML defined. Need to define how this and the test cases will be made public 05/05: Work still progressing 12/05: Work still progressing 02/06: Work still progressing on technical and legal considerations 16/06: work continues 23/06: work continues 30/06: work continues 07/07: work continues
085	ALL: publicize Public comments phase to ensure a good review.. 14/04: see minutes 21/04: Press release, OMG and other standards bodies. 05/05: Alan and Steve H have contacted other standards bodies. Will ask them to add comments on spec 15/05: still no public comments 02/06: No public comments 16/06: Public comments period has ended with no external comments. Alan had posted changes made in draft 041. Steve suggested send a note to the WG highlighting these changes. Steve also suggested requesting an extension as other IBM groups may review. We discussed whether this was necessary as changes will need to be made during the implementation phase anyway. Alan to ask OGF what the process is for changes post public comment. 23/06: Still no comments. Alan will contact OGF to understand the rest of the process. 30/06: Alan has emailed Joel asking what the process is now public comment period is over andcan we update the published version with WG updates. No response yet. 07/07: No response. Alan will chase up
086	AP: Nils and Defaults during unparsing - update table 31/03: TK to documetn use cases for parsing 14/04: Investigate new property to control empty string behaviour. 21/04: After investigation a new property is not required. New rules developed and tables updated. Need examples of complexTypes to confirm tables apply. Review Nils, defaulting spec section. 05/05: Discussed defaulting complex elements. Tables updated but need to add terminator. SH; to confirm WMD behaviour when infoset item has no value on unparsing Need to describe defaulting choices. 15/05: More discussion. Alan updating sections 26/05: Discussed draft updates. Stephanie to confirm asserts do not make an element required. Alan will update draft.. All: review rest of draft. 02/06: Alan updated description. Please review. Discussed Stephanie's example using discriminators. Decided no changes needed. 16/05: went through Steves comments. Steve to update draft. 23/06: Steve's updates to the rules discussed. See minutes. Rest of document needs updating. 30/06: Discussed Alans updates. Some corrections. Alan will send out updated copy for review before next call. 07/07: Discussed Alan updates and Tim and Steve's comments. Still some corrections and updates.
088	define semantics of choiceKind 'fixedLength' 31/03: TK to provide definition of calculable length. Investigate PL/I varchars and Cobol occurs dependingon. 14/04Tim had distributed a document starting the definition of calculable length for the longest choice member. Alan had done some investigation of COBOL occurs depending on and when used in the working section of a program then the maximum storage was reserved but when used in the linkage section the dependent number was uses. We need to understand how the WMB COBOL importer deals with ODO. 21/04: Need to define 'calculable length' and WMB importer ODO behaviour. 05/05: TK: Still need definition of calculable length. SKK: WMB COBOL imported behaviour with ODO 15/05: Suman sent an expmle of an imported Cobol ODo which suggested that the maximum space was reserved. He will extend the example. 02/06: no progress 16/06: no progress 23/06: no progress 30/06: Alan looked at Tim's description of calculable length and suggested that that real use case may be much simpler. If real use case is COBOL and C importers then it would be cleaner to require the 'fixed length' to be specified on the enclosing complex element and remove choiceKind 'fixed length'. Ask Suman is COBOL and C importers can be enhance to provide length on cpmplex element. 07/07: Steve had proposed 5 possible approaches to supporting main use case. i) Change the importer to add a parent element for each group. Con: This changes the logical model by inserting an extra level. ii) Allow dfdl:length to be carried on embedded xs:choice (along with dfdl:lengthUnits & dfdl:lengthKind). iii) New dfdl:choiceLength property to be carried on embedded xs:choice (always bytes). iv) dfdl:choiceKind as today. Con: length from TD model is lost and must be recalculated. v) dfdl:choiceKind but with limitations to make the calculation easier. Con: length from TD model is lost and must be recalculated. Agreed a modified version of iii) dfdl:choiceKind becomes dfdl:choiceLengthKind with emuns 'implicit' (length of selected branch) and 'explicit' ( length specified by dfd;choiceLength) New property dfdl:choiceLength
096	AP: using textStringPadCharacter with charRef '%#r' on multi-byte encoding 07/07: not discussed
097	nilIndicatorPath and nilIndicatorIndex properties 07/07: Tim had emaled Mike with a proposal and Steve had responded with 3 alternatives 1) Leave things as they are, perhaps renaming 'nilIndicator' to 'indicator' 2) Collapse nilIndicatorPath and nilIndicatorIndex to a single property. It means the path is repeated, but it makes nils consistent with length and occurs. For all, you can always use a string variable to hold the constant part of the path and concatenate with the index. And if we improve usability in a future DFDL release, we would improve it for nils, lengths and occurs at the same time. 3) Drop the properties for 1.0 altogether on the grounds that it is a rare case. I've never seen such a format, but we know Mike has. Not discussed.
099	Splitting the specification in simpler sections. 07/07: Steve sent a proposal but not discussed. Alan will arrange a separate call.