votable: Re: VOTable session @ Interop.Moscow

From: Roy Williams <roy-at-cacr.caltech.edu>
Date: Fri, 22 Sep 2006 06:53:02 -0700

Another serious problem I have with ID elements in the table cells is the effect on the binary formats, it means that VOTable can no longer be expressed as a combination of XML metadata and binary data. How can you this tangle of complexity to the TABLEDATA section and still retain connection to FITS and to simple binary?

I know these are not much used, but the VOTable document says that these three TABLEDATA forms are isomorphic.
-- You cannot keep that statement.

You cannot change FITS binary table definition (??).
You can't have a self-contradictory definition. So when you decide to add the ID attribute, you MUST say how this affects the binary formats.

But the ELEPHANT in the room here is WHO REALLY WANTS THIS, that has still not been answered. And I don't mean inventing use cases, I mean NEED. VOTable is good. Please leave it alone!

Roy

California Institute of Technology
626 395 3670 Received on 2006-09-22Z15:53:47

Re: VOTable session @ Interop.Moscow