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| Is space special? |
by Danu |
2005-08-16 13:00:25 |
Green towel team states space is valid and should exists. Blue towel team says there is nothing special about space and it should not exist.
There is an ongoing email discussion at work regarding space. Discussion participants are starting to get red-eared over this. We have a database used for Logistics Support. There is a standard set of business rules. The target of debate is the column definition for <a_project_name>.
Blue towel team recites the definition used in the 1388-2B Standard for Logistic data. Format for <a_project_name> data is 10 X. Standard rulebook for data states:
"
"X" specifies that characters of the data field are upper case
alphabetical (except narrative fields), numerical, special or any combination thereof.
"
Blue towel team members’ interpretation of standard is:
By definition, a Special Character <key word "character"> has never (does not and should not) define a space (or null, or blank).
Space
alphabetical - no
narrative - no
numerical - no
special - no
any combination thereof - no
So space is not special and should not exist.
Green towel team has just returned volley with:
NISO TR03-1999: Guidelines for Alphabetical Arrangement of Letters and Sorting of Numerals and Other Symbols. Wherein it is does define space as a special character. The green towel team further argues space is the ASCII Character 32 (simply invoking the word "Character").
Now then, the determination of whether or not space is valid and should exist has a great impact. Currently it is not valid. It used to be, but a previous ruling on the matter decided it was not (in keeping with the Standard rules). Much time has passed since then and we are on the crux of a new ruling. If the existence of space must be accepted, then changes will need to be made, as some things just don't work with space. Of further consideration are competing universes. They too are restricted by the same Standard rules but if they have a different interpretation of space, it is possible they now accept space as valid or, perhaps they do not and if we do, then our universe will no longer be compatible and transportation of data across the realms will not be possible.
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[ Reply ] |
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No, it's spatial (n/t) | by MatthewDBA | 2005-08-16 13:05:55 |
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LOL (n/t) | by Danu | 2005-08-16 13:13:41 |
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I agree with Green. | by pyroteknix | 2005-08-16 13:17:25 |
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Seconded. | by Didactylos | 2005-08-16 13:33:18 |
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I would consider space special. | by aix tom | 2005-08-16 13:32:05 |
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Data normalisation | by Didactylos | 2005-08-16 13:37:20 |
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Define "space" | by TrogL | 2005-08-16 14:12:30 |
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I whole heartily agree. Managing space is a PITA. | by Danu | 2005-08-16 14:27:48 |
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Sheer laziness. | by Didactylos | 2005-08-16 14:35:27 |
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Agree, some laziness involved. | by Danu | 2005-08-16 14:55:43 |
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Space is big. Really big.... (n/t) | by fudje | 2005-08-16 15:06:24 |
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