On Mon, 29 Dec 2003, Thomas Beale wrote:definition?
ok, I've seen these. There are multiple archetypes implied by the UoP
form, and a lot of details that the form doesn't mention at all - which
is fine - that's not its job; but where is the specification of the
semantics of the data?
Semantics = form metadata + translators
what would I copy and paste - what is the boundary of "drugs and alcohol" questions?- How would I re-use the segment about (recreational) drugs and alcohol
Copy and paste.
in another form?
Yes, into another OIO form.
- Or the cancer-related questions?
Same - copy and paste.
but rugged individualist form writers won't live with that; you've already told us so....- In particular, how to ensure the data on these same sections is the
same when generated by different forms?
Don't change them after you paste.
ah - the mysterious form meta-data...- Where is the entry validity specification?
Input validation definitions are part of the form metadata.
well...it's pretty common that some items on a form are mandatory and some not, if you are going to generate data that is even slightly meaningful. Questions usually come in groups and sub groups; usually whole groups become mandatory on the basis of the answer to another question (e.g. "any allergies?" = yes => now describe the allergies in multiple occurrences of an "allergy characterisation" sub form).- Where is it specified what parts are mandatory to fill in and what
parts not?
Mandatory vs. optional is currently not a separete question item
attribute. Maybe it should be - what do you think?
Andrew, I really think you need to consider doing some design work, instead of providing endless simplistic responses to technical questions, which in general are non-trivial to solve properly.
- thomas beale
