[uf-discuss] include-pattern support for data outside of the current page? [Was: Visible Data...a Microformat requirement?]

[Tantek Ç elik]

On 10/26/06 11:22 AM, "Guillaume Lebleu" <gl at brixlogic.com> wrote:

> include-pattern support for data outside of the current page?

Guillaume,

My apologies for not clarifying this on the include-pattern page - I could
have swore I had done so, and it was one of these core aspects of its design
that I'm quite surprised did not make it to the wiki.

The short answer is no, the include-pattern DOES NOT support data outside
the current page.

I've added a section:

 http://microformats.org/wiki/include-pattern#scope

As well as added it as an FAQ item (as I think I have heard this question
before, and certainly want to make it clear).

 http://microformats.org/wiki/include-pattern-faq


> The thread around invisble microformats reminded me of this example from
> the visible Web. Maybe relevant to this discussion, if not relevant to
> the include-pattern.
> 
> An index page (http://www.eia.doe.gov/emeu/international/oilprice.html)
> contains currency information that applies to all pages it indexes. For
> instance, in this data page
> (http://quotes.ino.com/exchanges/?r=NYMEX_CL), there is no unit/currency
> defined, and we only know the numbers are "U.S. Dollars per barrel" b/c
> it was defined in the separate page we came from.
> 
> Should my "data page" contains an include-pattern link to the currency
> definition from the other page?

I think the dependency of that kind of context from a separate page is poor
information design, but that might not be something you can change.

The page itself must contain sufficient information for the microformat.  It
can be a minimal version that points to another page for more details.


> Is it good for the interpretation of the data on one page to rely on
> data on another page? anyone has an opinion?

No it is not good.  People print out pages.  Pages get moved.  Pages get
copied and pasted, and the first things to break are such cross-page
content/context dependencies.  Relying on data on another page introduces a
significant amount of fragility.


> I'm asking since I haven't seen on the include-pattern page any clear
> direction on this.

Thanks for the heads up - again, apologies for not documenting this in the
first place.

Tantek