OASIS Universal Business Language (UBL) TC

 View Only

Re: [ubl] Partial UBL 1.0 build (11 April)

  • 1.  Re: [ubl] Partial UBL 1.0 build (11 April)

    Posted 04-15-2004 23:24
     MHonArc v2.5.0b2 -->
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    

    ubl message

    [Date Prev] | [Thread Prev] | [Thread Next] | [Date Next] -- [Date Index] | [Thread Index] | [List Home]


    Subject: Re: [ubl] Partial UBL 1.0 build (11 April)


    A nit: asking comments to be sent directly to the editor of a document bypasses
    the archives and can be considered a no-no. This is particularly true of a final CD
    that will go out for review - please contact Karl Best and ask him what the procedure
    is for comments during public review time. It used to be to send comments to the
    comments list, but I believe this may have changed. I'm not sure, though.
    
    On 04/15/2004 01:01 PM, Jon.Bosak@Sun.COM wrote:
    > I took Anne's review first because I suspected it would require
    > the most work.  :-)
    > 
    > Tim McGrath and Stephen Green: note actions/queries attached to
    > your names in what follows.
    > 
    > [anne.hendry@sun.com:]
    > 
    > | Schemas
    > | -------
    > | 
    > | - In UBL-CommonBasicComponents-1.0.xsd, the 'Document Type' field of the
    > |   header comment block says 'CommonAggregateComponents' rather than
    > |   CommonBasicComponents.  This is probably going to confuse some folks.
    > 
    > Logged in a list of schema changes I'm holding.
    > 
    > | Spreadsheets
    > | ------------
    > | 
    > | - The spreadsheets contain a second sheet with the TBG 17 information.
    > |   Should those be explained somewhere?  I haven't looked throroughly
    > |   through the appendices, but didn't see anything in a quick glance.
    > 
    > For Tim: Didn't we decide that these would be removed?
    > 
    > | - Spreadsheets don't show document name in title - just 'UBL'.
    > 
    > The title does appear in the xls but not the sxc, so apparently
    > it's a conversion problem.  The title is captured in "headers and
    > footers," so it's in the sxc somewhere.  If there's time after doing
    > the other spreadsheet changes, we might want to fix this by hand.
    > 
    > | - We've lost the little pop-up text on the first row of each color of the models
    > |   that explained what the colors mean.  If it's too late to put these back,
    > |   perhaps we can add something to the document section for those with this info?
    > 
    > There is an explanation of the colors at the top of this section
    > (B.3.2).
    > 
    > | Document
    > | --------
    > | 
    > | 2. Normative References
    > | 
    > | - For the UML reference, the first link points to the OMG site which yields
    > |   a document labeled as 02/07/07, Version 1.3.  However, the link to our
    > |   OASIS archived version yields a document from March '03, version 1.5.
    > | 
    > |   Since the reference in our doc identifies the links as being to 1.3, the
    > |   link to the oasis archived version should probably point to a 1.3 version.
    > 
    > Thanks for catching this; I forgot to ask.  The problem is that I
    > can't find the document for 1.3; the thing at the end of the OMG
    > link is just the XMI DTD.  The 1.5 document was the earliest I
    > could find.  Can someone find me a link to 1.3?  Alternatively,
    > should we point to 1.5?  The 1.5 spec lives at
    > 
    >    http://www.omg.org/docs/formal/03-03-01.pdf
    > 
    > (Pending an answer, I'm changing the link in the master doc to
    > point to the link above and the reference to 1.5.  I'll change
    > this back if anyone can find me 1.3.)
    > 
    > | 3. Terms and Definitions
    > | 
    > | - In the def for 'Document', the example, 'placing an order', isn't really
    > |   appropriate to the term.  The more appropriate example would be 'an order
    > |   document used when placing an order', rather than 'placing an order' since
    > |   the term being described is the document, not the act of placing the order.
    > 
    > I've added "in" before "placing an order."
    > 
    > | - In the def for 'Functional Dependency', not sure how this came about,
    > |   but a 'Functional Dependency' is not a 'means of aggregating components'.
    > |   I'm not sure we need to have a def for 'functional dependency'.  It's used
    > |   twice: B2. Component Model, first para, and in the def for 'Normalization'.
    > 
    > I think we should have a definition, but I agree that this one
    > doesn't quite do it.  Tim?
    > 
    > | 4. Symbols and Abbreviations
    > | 
    > | - For ISO, 'Organisation' is spelled with a 's', while 'Standardization'
    > |   is spelled with a 'z'.  On the ISO site they spell their name with a
    > |   'z' for both.
    > 
    > Got it.
    > 
    > | 5.0 UBL Procurement Process
    > | 
    > | - Second para uses the term 'document types' and last sentence refers to
    > |   these as 'businesses processes' ('It is expected that other standard
    > |   business processes will be added ...')  I think this should be 'document
    > |   types ...' or 'document types to support additional business processes...'.
    > 
    > Actually, they don't refer to the same thing, but I agree that
    > the para would benefit from the first suggested change.  So made.
    > 										
    > | - Figure 1:
    > | 
    > |   + Not clear at this point that the bolded boxes are the docs provided by
    > |     UBL 1.0.  This could be clarified by changing the word 'needed' in the
    > |     preceding sentence to 'provided by UBL 1.0', and/or add a label for
    > |     them in the diagram, as there is for the other diagram components.
    > 
    > The para above the list now reads as follows:
    > 
    >   <p>This model describes a basic trading cycle from Order to
    > 	Invoice that involves three parties: a Buyer of goods, a
    > 	Seller of goods, and a Recipient of goods, who may or may
    > 	not be the Buyer. The document types provided by UBL to
    > 	support this process include the following:</p>
    > 
    > And the para just above the diagram now says:
    > 
    >   <p>The bold boxes in the diagram below show the role of each
    > 	document type in the generic process.</p>
    > 
    > |   + The intro paras say that the Buyer may or may not be the Recipient.
    > |     However, the diagram only shows the situation where the Buyer is not
    > |     the Recipient.  The statement preceding the figure says this shows a
    > |     'generic' process, but since it only shows the generic process where
    > |     the Buyer is not the Recipient, I think it would be appropriate to
    > |     add the words 'where the Buyer is not the Recipient', or something
    > |     to that effect here, because the arrows would definitely be different
    > |     if the example was of a situation where the Buyer was the Recipient.
    > 
    > I don't think that anyone is going to misunderstand this.
    > 
    > |   + What is the diff in meaning between a dotted line and a solid line?
    > |     Can something be mentioned here to explain?  Or is this standard UML?
    > 
    > Good question.  I came to the conclusion that the dashed lines
    > indicate a document exchange and the solid lines indicate a
    > process arc, but I don't know the UML nomenclature for this.  I
    > don't think that anyone will actually have a big problem with
    > this, but it would be good to get a sentence explaining the
    > distinction correctly.  Tim/Stephen?
    > 
    > | 5.2 Document Business Rules
    > | 
    > | - Did not check the info in this section against the actual document models.
    > |   Does this still need to be done?
    > 
    > I'm taking this on faith from the content modelers.
    > 
    > | 6.2.2
    > | 
    > | - The use of both the terms 'specialised' and 'uspecialised' and
    > |   'qualified' and 'unqualified' is extremely confusing here.
    > |   I did a search through ccts, and could not find either the term
    > |   'Qualified Data Type' nor the term 'Unqualified Data Type'. 
    > |   The Unspecialised Datatype section says this term is 'specified'
    > |   by ccts; the Specialised Datatype section says this term is 'defined
    > |   in CCTS'.  However, as I mentioned, I couldn't find the term in ccts,
    > |   so I think the accuracy of these statements should be checked.
    > | 
    > |   CCTS does talk about a 'Qualifier Term', which is defined as a word
    > |   or name (uncapitalized).  Therefore, uncapitalizing 'qualified' or
    > |   'unqualified' would at least help keep that term from conflicting
    > |   as much with the use of the term 'specialised' in the names, but
    > |   explaining a bit more what is meant would also help, since people
    > |   are going to go to the referenced CCTS and not find these terms there.
    > 
    > Tim?
    > 
    > | - Specialised Datatypes section uses the term 'facets'
    > |   ('... such as facets.'), so perhaps we need an XSD2 reference here?
    > 
    > I don't think so.  The whole thing assumes some familiarity with
    > XSD terminology.
    > 
    > | - Naming the 3 ccts-conformance schemas 'Reusable Datatype Schemas'
    > |   doesn't jibe with the description at the top of the section, and
    > |   I think will have people confused with the 'Reusable BIE Schemas'.
    > |   The description at the top also doesn't clarify if these are to
    > |   be reused at the document level, so people might expect this, as
    > |   with the other 'reusables' if the distinction is not clear.
    > 
    > I'm open to suggestions.
    > 
    > | 6.2.3 Documentation Metadata Schema
    > | 
    > | - First sentence has 'in in' typo.
    > 
    > Got it.
    > 
    > | 6.3 UBL Code List Schemas
    > | 
    > | - Either change 'The 13 code lists ...' to 'The 13 code list schemas ...'
    > |   or change '... are included in the xsd/codelist directory.' to
    > |   '... are included in the schemas in the xsd/codelist directory.'
    > 
    > I'll take the former; done.
    > 
    > | - and perhaps  '13' -> 'thirteen'
    > 
    > I ordinarily follow the Associated Press rule (everything below 10
    > is spelled out), but it does look strange here.  On checking the
    > Chicago Manual of Style, I see that their rule is to spell out
    > everything below 100 except for certain specific exceptions, so I
    > think that's what we'll do here.  Change made, and I'll try to
    > look for similar cases in another read-through.
    > 
    > | 6.4 Schema Dependencies
    > | 
    > | - Figure 2 shows '<< import >>' for all the schemas except the CCP.
    > |   Shouldn't the lines going into this module show an << import >>
    > |   as well?
    > 
    > Tim?
    > 
    > Appendix A
    > 
    > | A.3 Package Structure
    > | 
    > | - Second sentence.  Stop sentence at '... 1.0 release', delete rest of
    > |   sentence and replace with 'After uncompressing the zip archive you
    > |   should see the following directories and files'.  Then list all the
    > |   directories and files that will be at the top level.  People want
    > |   to know exactly what they should see after the unzip, so listing
    > |   the files at the top level (either before or after the subdirectories)
    > |   is important too.  Since the archive should be contained within a subdir
    > |   itself, this also would be shown.
    > 
    > I want to keep the subdirectory list the way it is so that
    > truncated references such as "art/" stay consistent thoughout the
    > document.  So I've changed the intro para to read as follows:
    > 
    >   <p>The UBL 1.0 specification is published as a zip archive named
    > 	UBL-1.0.zip.  Unzipping this archive creates a directory named
    > 	UBL-1.0 containing a master hypertext document (this
    > 	document, index.html) and a number of subdirectories. The
    > 	files in these subdirectories, linked to from index.html,
    > 	contain the various normative and informational pieces of
    > 	the 1.0 release.  A description of each subdirectory is
    > 	given below.</p>
    > 
    > | A.4 Tools
    > | 
    > | - This is a little vague, so if I can get you a better para before noon
    > |   tomorrow I will.
    > 
    > I want it to be a little vague.  Our way of handling the other end
    > of this reference may undergo a lot of changes over the life of
    > the 1.0 spec.
    > 
    > | Appendix B
    > | 
    > | B.1 The UBL Development Approach
    > | 
    > | - Second para after figure B-1 describes two models:
    > |     document component model and document assembly model(s)
    > |   Following 2 paras should use same terminology:
    > |   + 'component model' -> 'document component model'
    > |   + 'spreadsheet assembly model(s)' -> 'document assembly model(s)'
    > |                         (or 'document assembly model spreadsheets')
    > 
    > I've already got a related (though not so extensive) query about
    > this in to Tim.  Let's see what he comes up with.
    > 
    > | - Third para after figure B-1, 'Further' -> 'Additional', or 'Separate'
    > 
    > I'll take "additional."
    > 
    > | - Fourth para after figure B-1 talks about 'implementation models',
    > |   but only conceptual models had been discussed so far.  Maybe just
    > |   put this as a new para, then?
    > 
    > I think this is OK for a brief overview of the sections that
    > immediately follow.
    > 
    > | B.2 Component Model
    > | 
    > | - Second sentence, 'domponent' -> 'component'
    > 
    > Got it.
    > 
    > | - Second bullet above figure B-2 'It provides for understanding ...'
    > |   -> 'It facilitates understanding ...'?
    > 
    > I've gone for "aids in understanding."
    > 
    > | B.3.1
    > | 
    > | - I just checked briefly the SS error Stephen described in his review,
    > |   but I don't see it - they open just fine on my Windows 2000 system
    > |   (both .xsc and .xls).  I'm using OO, though.
    > 
    > I'll look at this separately.
    > 
    > | Misc
    > | 
    > | - I'm sure this is noted somewhere already, but the NDR references need
    > |   to be checked at the end depending on what actually gets included with
    > |   the release.
    > 
    > We'll have to try to remember this.
    > 
    > | -----------------------------------------------
    > | Misc and/or Lower Priority (if time constrains)
    > | -----------------------------------------------
    > | 
    > | When I print this out I get many diagrams spread across a couple of pages
    > | (truncated at the end of one page, continuing on the next).  Can diagrams
    > | be kept from crossing page boundaries by adding something to the document
    > | markup?  I printed them using the html file in the build.
    > 
    > Thanks -- I hadn't tried printing yet.  I don't know any way
    > around this problem, but maybe there's something in CSS that can
    > be used to put in a conditional page break (I'm using CSS 1 to try
    > for maximum browser interoperability, but if I get a chance before
    > we put out the final build, I'll try to look into this further and
    > maybe even check out CSS 2).  Note that hard-coding some kind of
    > cruft like empty paras won't work because of different page
    > formats (US vs. A4), user-settable font sizes, optional
    > headers/footers, different browsers, and similar variables beyond
    > our control.
    > 
    > | Abstract: add 1.0?  Generally refer to this release with the 1.0 added
    > |   where the mention is specific to this release?  There are some very
    > |   generic paras at the beginning where this would not be appropriate,
    > |   but otherwise it seems it would be.
    > 
    > I added "1.0" in one spot (probably the one that made you think of
    > this), but otherwise I think the other references to UBL should
    > stay generic.
    > 
    > | Schemas
    > | -------
    > | 
    > | - I still think it's quite confusing to have the Reusable model come out
    > |   as two schemas (CAC and CBC).  Could we update this in 1.1 or 2.0?
    > 
    > Not a Q/A issue at this point.  We can fight about this later.
    > 
    > | Document
    > | --------
    > | 
    > | 1. Introduction
    > | 
    > | - Throughout first couple of paras and first four bullets there is use of
    > |   the term 'version', as in 'XML versions', and use of the term 'formats',
    > |   as in 'XML formats' or 'data formats' and these are used interchangeably.
    > |   Since it appears these are both talking about the same thing, it would
    > |   help the reader if only one of these terms is used consistently throughout.
    > 
    > They don't mean exactly the same thing, and I think that
    > collapsing the distinction would not aid readability.
    > 
    > | - The first page or so of the Intro explains the context for UBL, basically
    > |   setting the stage.  Then para beginning 'UBL schemas are modular ...' goes
    > |   into the details of this particular UBL release.  It would be helpful to
    > |   here either have a new subheading, or at least begin putting '1.0' in
    > |   front of the UBL references, since the earlier sections could be applied
    > |   to any UBL release, whereas the text starting with this para seems to be
    > |   more specifically about this particular release and it's contents
    > |   (UML diagrams, etc).
    > 
    > The predicates "modular, reusable, and extensible" apply to UBL in
    > general.  I see your point about the rest of the para, but most of
    > this applies to all contemplated versions of UBL, and I'd rather
    > leave it the way it is.
    > 
    > | 5.0 UBL Procurement Process
    > | 
    > |   + The flow (arrow directions) for Cancel Order are a bit strange.
    > |     If you follow Cancel Order from the Buyer side, when it gets to the
    > |     Seller side it runs into several arrows coming in the other direction
    > |     from 'Accept Order' and 'Add Detail'.  It seems they should go on to
    > |     an end point, but there are no arrows coming out of Cancel Order on
    > |     the Seller side, only those two arrows going in.  In other words,
    > |     you can't follow the arrows for the Cancel Order process to any
    > |     logical termination point, as you can for the others.  The description
    > |     (5.2.5) seems to indicate that Cancellation can be initiated only by
    > |     the Buyer, so the description doesn't really support the other arrows
    > |     (from Seller Accept Order and Seller Add Detail).
    > | 
    > |   + On the Buyer side, there is an arrow from Recieve Response to
    > |     Recieve Advice.  But it doesn't seem to me that a Buyer would go
    > |     from receiving an Order Response straight into a Receive Advice state
    > |     without getting a DespatchAdvice first.  It would seem that this
    > |     would need to be triggered by a Despatch Advice.  If so, then I don't
    > |     think there should be an arrow from Receive Response to Receive Advice.
    > |     I think it might be there because that is the logical next step for
    > |     the Buyer, but it occurs not directly, but indirectly, after some
    > |     period of time has elapsed and a DespatchAdvice comes in, I would think.
    > | 
    > |   + There are some other things, but this might take some time to work
    > |     through.  Perhaps this could be a 1.1 work item (to review this
    > |     section) and expand on it as per the general comment for 5.2, below?
    > 
    > Unless someone in LC wants to make a change at this point, I
    > think we should hold further refinements for 1.1.
    > 
    > | 5.2 Document Business Rules
    > | 
    > | - Generally, the information in this section touches on some specific
    > |   mini-scenarios that could be handled by each of the documents, but not
    > |   in a way that could be easily related back to, or sufficiently covers,
    > |   the available entities - there is still a lack of information pertaining
    > |   sepcifically to how a user would use each of the entities of each of the
    > |   documents.  Customers have asked for this and we've discussed it in the
    > |   ISC - that we need some tutorial type information, or a handbook or
    > |   something that has more information than we have available here.
    > |   A 1.1 item?
    > 
    > Yes, I think so.
    > 
    > | - First sentence "This section describes the business rules ... that are
    > |   assumed as information requirements ...".  I'm not sure what the thought
    > |   is that is being expressed there, but the following sections don't so
    > |   much describe business rules as they describe the capabilities of the
    > |   document types and the information that they can exchange, so perhaps
    > |   the statement would be clearer if 'business rules' was changed to
    > |   'business information requirements' and then drop
    > |   'that are assumed as information requirements' later in the sentence.?
    > |   Along these lines, I think the title is a misnomer as well, since the
    > |   section really doesn't describe business rules as much as the business
    > |   entity capabilities and document usage (rather than rules).
    > 
    > I think that the section does in fact convey a lot of information
    > about business rules.  It could be better, but from a logistical
    > standpoint I would put this into category of further work.
    > 
    > | 5.3 Item Business Rules
    > | 
    > | - Again, this doesn't seem to specify rules as much as best practices,
    > |   it seems.
    > | 
    > | - This may be clear to others, but at the start of 5.3.1 there is a list
    > |   of the 5 ways an Item may be identified.  It would be most helpful to
    > |   have those described here before diving into the next level of detail
    > |   given by subsections 5.3.1.1 through 5.3.1.3.  Lacking that higher
    > |   level of detail, it is difficult to see how the information in sections
    > |   5.3.1.1 thorugh 5.3.1.3 relate back to the type of items identified in
    > |   5.3.1 and how to use that information.
    > | 
    > | - Also, the first sentence of this section says 'Item structures are found
    > |   throughout the document types ...', but when you look at the document
    > |   models, 'Item' is not at all obvious - it's hidden in the other structures
    > |   so you really don't see what's being discussed unless you look at Reusable.
    > |   So it may help to give a pointer here to Reusable (or perhaps move this
    > |   section to after the discussion of the Reusable/common components),
    > |   or simply to say 'document instances', rather than 'document types',
    > |   as Item is very obvious in the instances.
    > 
    > Same here.
    > 
    > Jon
    > 
    > To unsubscribe from this mailing list (and be removed from the roster of the OASIS TC), go to http://www.oasis-open.org/apps/org/workgroup/ubl/members/leave_workgroup.php.
    > 
    
    -- 
    Eduardo Gutentag               |         e-mail: eduardo.gutentag@Sun.COM
    Web Technologies and Standards |         Phone:  +1 510 550 4616 x31442
    Sun Microsystems Inc.          |         W3C AC Rep / OASIS BoD
    


    [Date Prev] | [Thread Prev] | [Thread Next] | [Date Next] -- [Date Index] | [Thread Index] | [List Home]