OASIS XML Localisation Interchange File Format (XLIFF) TC

Description of the 'id' attribute - proposal

  • 1.  Description of the 'id' attribute - proposal

    Posted 03-24-2003 23:06
    Hi all,
    
    John, Enda and I were looking at some aspects of the XLIFF representation
    for RC and we ran into a possibly unclear description for the 'id' attribute
    (in relation to 'resname') It currently reads:
    
    "Identifier - The id attribute is used in many elements, as a unique
    reference to the original corresponding code data or format for the given
    element. the id element is not the identifier of a resource: use resname for
    that purpose."
    
    We tend to think a better wording could be as follow:
    
    "The id attribute is used in many elements as a reference to the original
    corresponding code data or format for the given element. The value of the id
    element is determined by the tool creating the XLIFF document. It may or may
    not be a resource identifier. The identifier of a resource should, at least,
    be stored in the resname attribute."
    
    The ideas are:
    a) To remove the word "unique" because 'id' values are not necessarily
    unique in a document.
    b) To make sure filters put ID/Name of resources in the resname attribute
    (and, if they want, in the id attribute too).
    
    We would also add couple of example of usage such as for instance:
    
    <trans-unit id="34" resname="IDD_ABOUT_DLG" restype="dialog"
     coord="0;0;235;100" font="MS Sans Serif;8" style="0x0932239">
     <source>About Dialog</source>
    </trans-unit>
    
    <trans-unit id="IDD_ABOUT_DLG" resname="IDD_ABOUT_DLG" restype="dialog"
     coord="0;0;235;100" font="MS Sans Serif;8" style="0x0932239">
     <source>About Dialog</source>
    </trans-unit>
    
    
    kenavo,
    -yves