1) I'll let Tim comment more on this but a relative expression uses as its context the current element on the stack. So using '.' on a simple element or its type resolves to the simple element, and using '.' on a complex element or a group child (recursively) of a complex element resolves to the complex element. Same deal when using the '..' parent axis, so beware - as this example shows: <xs:element name="root"> <xs:complexType> <xs:sequence> <xs:element name="delim" type="xs:string"/> <xs:element name="body"> <xs:complexType> <xs:sequence dfdl:separator="{../delim}"> ...and not {../../delim} ! This is all implied by the way XPath works. XPath only knows about elements. 2) I don't see why Jonathan's example could give an SDE. The defineVariables will always be executed first. However the result is ambiguous, depending on the order each setVariable is executed, as 'bar' could end up as 'biff' or 'fooey'. "Schema authors can insert sequences to provide more precise control over when variables are set" - quote from section 9.5.3 (errata 3.25). 3) To Mike's comment, the order of execution of setVariable and newVariableInstance on the same annotation is strictly defined, see section 9.5 (errata 3.25) Regards Steve Hanson Architect, IBM Data Format Description Language (DFDL) Co-Chair, OGF DFDL Working Group IBM SWG, Hursley, UK smh@uk.ibm.com tel:+44-1962-815848 From: Mike Beckerle <mbeckerle.dfdl@gmail.com> To: "Cranford, Jonathan W." <jcranford@mitre.org>, Cc: "dfdl-wg@ogf.org" <dfdl-wg@ogf.org> Date: 10/09/2013 18:23 Subject: Re: [DFDL-WG] questions on setVariable Sent by: dfdl-wg-bounces@ogf.org Those are both public-comment-class issues. The issue of what does "." mean in various places is interesting. It is referring to an infoset node, but how to explain exactly which one it is.... The out-of-order issue with evaluation that you mention is definitely an issue. The schema you gave will work or SDE depending on the order of evaluation of the statements and the language is not precise enough to say what the order is. I think the order of the setVariable and newVariableInstance statements at any annotation point, must be linear first to last. The order of setVariable and newVariableInstance combined into the resolved set of annotations, but from multiple annotation points (e.g., an element and a global type definition it references), those can be interleaved in any order. Mike Beckerle | OGF DFDL Workgroup Co-Chair | Tresys Technology | www.tresys.com Please note: Contributions to the DFDL Workgroup's email discussions are subject to the OGF Intellectual Property Policy On Tue, Sep 10, 2013 at 12:53 PM, Cranford, Jonathan W. < jcranford@mitre.org> wrote: These questions may go towards public comment if the answers aren't straight-forward. Section references are against latest editor's draft. · Section 7.9 - 5th paragraph after first example - "A dfdl:setVariable value expression may refer to the value of this element using a relative path value '.'. " Which element? If dfdl:setVariable is attached to a simpleType, then the "element" referred to here is the element of that type, correct? But when it's attached to group reference, sequence, or choice, is it the parent element which contains the group reference, sequence, or choice? · Section 7.9 - next-to-last paragraph: "However, the order of execution among them is not specified." Wouldn't this be ambiguous, then? <xs:schema> <xs:annotation> <xs:appinfo source="http://www.ogf.org/dfdl/"> <xs:defineVariable name="bar" /> <xs:defineVariable name="baz" defaultValue="biff"/> </xs:appinfo> </xs:annotation> ... <xs:element name="foo"> <xs:annotation> <xs:appinfo source="http://www.ogf.org/dfdl/"> <xs:setVariable ref="bar" value="{$tns:baz}"/> <xs:setVariable ref="baz" value="fooey"/> </xs:appinfo> </xs:annotation> </xs:element> ... </xs:schema> If the order of execution isn't specified, isn't it ambiguous whether tns:bar gets the value of "biff" (defaultValue of tns:baz) or "fooey"? Respectfully, -- Jonathan W. Cranford Senior Information Systems Engineer The MITRE Corporation (http://www.mitre.org) -- dfdl-wg mailing list dfdl-wg@ogf.org https://www.ogf.org/mailman/listinfo/dfdl-wg -- dfdl-wg mailing list dfdl-wg@ogf.org https://www.ogf.org/mailman/listinfo/dfdl-wg Unless stated otherwise above: IBM United Kingdom Limited - Registered in England and Wales with number 741598. Registered office: PO Box 41, North Harbour, Portsmouth, Hampshire PO6 3AU