In article <49eb6317.0409011315.39cb0b00@p...>,
Ralph Krausse <gordingin@c...> wrote:

% In this schema, this line... 
% xmlns:xs="http://www.w3.org/2001/XMLSchema"
% say that the elements and data types declared with the xs prefix come
% from http://www.w3.org/2001/XMLSchema. But that is url and I can go to
% it. I see nothing that says anything about elements and data types. I
% know the w3.org creates the standards for this type of stuff but
% where?

First thing: the URI used in a namespace doesn't have to refer to
a real-world resource. In some cases, people will put content there,
but you shouldn't expect it.

Second thing: this particular URI has a link to part 1 of the
specification on it. A Google search is probably a better starting
point, but if you want the definitive description, it's right there.

% In this line:
% targetNamespace="urn:xmlns:25hoursaday-com:my-bookshelf" 
% defines the targetNamespage as urn:xmlns:25hoursaday-com:my-bookshelf.
% What does 'urn:xmlns:25hoursaday-com:my-bookshelf' mean? Is this just
% arbitrary text?
% Could it be anything?

On a technical level, the name space URI is just a string with some
syntax requirements. The point is to provide a globally unique name
which sets that particular name space aside from all others. For this to
work, you need some way of keeping other people from using the same name
space as you. Internet addresses are convenient for this purpose, since
the domain registry ensures different organisations will not have
conflicting domain names, so if everybody uses addresses within their
own registered domains, there will be no conflicts.

Strictly speaking, I believe that URIs with the urn: protocol are also
supposed to be registered with some organisation. People do what they
like, though.



-- 

Patrick TJ McPhee
East York  Canada
ptjm@i...