atom feed4 messages in org.oasis-open.lists.unitsmlRe: [unitsml] UNITSML discussion: WSD...
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carl...@nist.govAug 14, 2008 7:31 am 
Peter J. LinstromAug 22, 2008 4:20 pm 
Bob DragosetAug 27, 2008 11:22 am 
Stuart ChalkAug 29, 2008 11:28 am 
Subject:Re: [unitsml] UNITSML discussion: WSDL conversion services
From:Bob Dragoset (drag@nist.gov)
Date:Aug 27, 2008 11:22:29 am
List:org.oasis-open.lists.unitsml

All & Stuart,

This message is intended to be part of the "asynchronous" part of the August UnitsML discussion.

I agree with you Peter, for two primary reasons:

1) Each WSDL service is required to include information regarding how to access the service; e.g., required and optional input parameters, format for both input and output parameters, etc. I'm not an expert in WSDL services, but I don't see the advantage of allowing the user to include the instructional information (provided by the WSDL service) in the UnitsML portion of an instance document.

2) As far as I'm aware, we have not included numeric values in the UnitsML portion of an instance document; the numeric values of a quantity would be handled elsewhere in the instance document. For example, in the Float64ConversionFrom element using the conversion equation y = d + ((b / c) (x + a)), we include the factors a, b, c, & d, but not the initial value, x (nor do we calculate the final value, y). I think calculations such as these or those provided by a WSDL service should be handled outside of the UnitsML portion.

Stuart, Since you recommended the WSDL addition to the UnitsML Schema, do you have any comments about these statements?

Bob Dragoset

PS: I sent this email to the OASIS UnitsML email list, but also to Stuart directly because I received a message from OASIS stating that they were having problems with receiving email and I wanted to post this for Stuart to see during the asynchronous portion of the meeting. If the problem with OASIS persists, I may extend the asynchronous portion of the meeting.

At 07:21 PM 8/22/2008, Peter J. Linstrom wrote:

All,

This message is intended to be part of the "asynchronous" part of the August UnitsML discussion.

During the August 13 meeting we briefly discussed the "WSDLConversionFrom" element. This element is intended to be a reference to on-line services which can provide unit conversions. I believe the simplest way to handle this is to simply point to a WSDL file which describes the resource. This would mean that the amount of information which would need to be stored in the element would be minimized. Specifically I believe that only the following would need to be stored:

1.) Identifier for source unit. 2.) Comment describing the service. 3.) URL for the appropriate WSDL file.

This has the advantage of being simple and robust with respect to different types of services (since all of the information is in the WSDL file). However this approach has some drawbacks:

* There is no way to map unit names to parameter values in the WSDL service (if the service requires this information). * There is no information about the format in which values are provided and returned. * There is no information about the accuracy of the conversion.

Since this is version 1 of UnitsML I do not think these drawbacks (which could be addressed in later versions) outweigh the value of recording WSDL service information.

I would greatly appreciate any input that others on the committee may have on this issue.

Peter Linstrom

================================================ Peter J. Linstrom NIST, Physical and Chemical Properties Division Phone: (301) 975-5422 ================================================ ----- Original Message ----- From: <carl@nist.gov> To: <unit@lists.oasis-open.org> Cc: <Robi@npl.co.uk> Sent: Thursday, August 14, 2008 10:32 AM Subject: [unitsml] Groups - Teleconference Minutes for Aug 13-27, 2008, Meeting (telecon20080813.pdf) uploaded

Audio from the Aug 13 teleconference is available at: http://www.oasis-open.org/committees/download.php/29043/20080813_8kbps.wma

and, in higher quality, at: http://www.oasis-open.org/committees/download.php/29044/20080813_32kbps.mp3

-- Mr. Mark Carlisle

The document named Teleconference Minutes for Aug 13-27, 2008, Meeting (telecon20080813.pdf) has been submitted by Mr. Mark Carlisle to the OASIS UnitsML TC document repository.

Document Description:

View Document Details: http://www.oasis-open.org/apps/org/workgroup/unitsml/document.php?document_id=29045

Download Document: http://www.oasis-open.org/apps/org/workgroup/unitsml/download.php/29045/telecon20080813.pdf

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