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gils: Re: GILS Profile version 2

gils: Re: GILS Profile version 2

Re: GILS Profile version 2

Eliot Christian (echristi@usgs.gov)
Tue, 03 Sep 1996 07:45:33 -0400 

Message-Id: <2.2.32.19960903114533.006e3b54@isdmnl.wr.usgs.gov>
Date: Tue, 03 Sep 1996 07:45:33 -0400
To: gils@cni.org
From: Eliot Christian <echristi@usgs.gov>
Subject: Re: GILS Profile version 2


At 11:35 AM 8/22/96 -0700, Fay Turner wrote:
> 
> [...] I propose the following minor changes:
>
> 1. Originator: this should be changed to Repeatable as more that one 
> agency can be responsible for the creation of an information resource.  
> Unless you treat this to mean something like "main author" and any 
> other co-originators would be entered in the Author element.  Not sure 
> I like this for automated searching on Originator.  Also, we would then 
> have to make up rules as to which is the main originator.

I think it is reasonable to make the Originator element repeatable.


> 2. Language of Resource: this should be changed to Repeatable as 
> an information resource, whether it is a printed document or an 
> information service, may be in more than one language. A book can 
> contain both English, French and Spanish text, a help service may be 
> avialble in English and Spanish.  The definition even implies that 
> this element is repeatable.

I agree that Language of Resource should be repeatable.


> 3. Controlled Subject Index: the structure of Controlled Subject Index 
> should be realigned to parallel the structure of Place in Spatial 
> Domain.  They both do the same thing - cite a thesaurus and provide 
> terms from the thesaurus.  Except Controlled Subject Index has the 
> added data subelement Subject Terms Controlled which I think is 
> redundant.

Consistency would be nice, and I do think we should follow whatever is 
the prevailing convention. If I understand your proposal correctly, we 
should have:

  Controlled Subject Index (Repeatable) This element is a grouping of 
  subelements that together provide any controlled vocabulary used to 
  describe the resource and the source of that controlled vocabulary. 

    Subject Thesaurus (Not Repeatable) This subelement provides the 
    reference to a formally registered thesaurus or similar authoritative 
    source of the controlled index terms, plus the terms themselves. 
    Notes on how to obtain electronic access to (e.g., a URI) or copies 
    of the referenced source should be provided, possibly through a Cross 
    Reference to another locator record that more fully describes the 
    referenced resource and its potential application to locating GILS 
    information.  Each term is provided in the subordinate repeating 
    field: 
    
      Controlled Term


> 4. Available Linkage, Linkage Type.  Structuring this element and its 
> compnents posed a real problem when drafting the DTD.  Available Linkage 
> is repeatable and contains the subelements Linkage (repeatable) and 
> Linkage Type (repeatable).  We suggest that Linkage Type be not 
> repeatable.  Instead, for each different Linkage Type value, you create 
> a new instance of the Available Linkage data element.  This allows you 
> to couple the Linkage with the Linkage Type.

I think this will work for Available Linkage. What do you propose to do 
with Cross Reference Linkage?    

Eliot Christian, US Geological Survey, 802 National Center, Reston VA 20192
echristi@usgs.gov  Office 703-648-7245  FAX 703-648-7069  Home 703-476-6134

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