Some more thoughts on this.

Even if 4 is changed to a schema definition error, the normal scoping rules would mean that an occurs property could still be picked up from a global element if either the global element use dfdl:ref which pulled in an occurs property, or if the element ref and it's schema were totally silent about an occurs property but a dfdl:format in the global element's schema wasn't silent so the global element picked up a default. As well as the SDE we'd need to make it clear that properties in 4 must not be picked up from the global element's scope.

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Errata 3.8 clarifies what action a DFDL processor should take when it encounters an object that explicitly carries properties that are not relevant to the object, as follows:

1  Property not applicable to the object’s kind.
Schema definition error. Example is lengthKind on xs:sequence.
2        Property not applicable because of simple type.
Warning. Example is calendarPatternKind on xs:string.
3        Property not applicable because of another DFDL property setting.
        Warning. Example is binaryNumberRep when representation is text
4  Property not applicable because object is global.
Warning (optional). Example is occursCountKind on a global xs:element.

I am starting to question whether 4 is the correct behaviour. I think this should be a schema definition error and not a warning because the property becomes applicable for an element reference that refers to that global element. It is a different situation from the other warning cases 2 & 3, where the test is made once scoping rules are applied, and the property is therefore not applicable.

Thoughts?

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
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