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I see that the definition of <length-range> has changed from 1.0 to 1.1 to explicitly differentiate between the <length> datatype and the <percentage> datatype. This makes intuitive sense, and the clarification is welcome. However, there is still at least one place in the 1.1 Recommendation that confuses or even contradicts this distinction, at Section 5.11, at the first "Note" item (designated by a hand with a pointing finger in the PDF version), which says: "Since a <percentage> value, that is not interpreted as "auto", is a valid <length> value it may be used in a short form." It is difficult to tell whether this is intended to be a general statement for all cases, or one that applies only to the "space-before" example in the context. However, neither seems to be appropriate. The "space-before" property says that percentages are "N/A". And, if my understanding is correct that "86%" should not be accepted as a valid <length> item (although it should be accepted as a valid percentage item where percentages are valid), then the statement is not correct for the general case either. On a related note, it seems to me that the "Value" definitions for the space-end, space-start, and leader-length properties (and perhaps other similar properties) are not quite correct, or at least not as clear as they could be: 1. It may be appropriate to clarify the definition of the <space> datatype in a manner similar to the way <length-range> was clarified, that is, by adding the comment that "A property may define ... additional permitted values and their semantics; e.g. ... <percentage>." 2. My understanding of the Recommendation taken as a whole is that it is not accurate for any of the three properties mentioned (and perhaps others) to list <percentage> as a valid value. In all of these cases, the value (unless "inherit") will be a <space> datatype (for space-end and space-start) or <length-range> (for leader-length). Instead, what appears to be meant is that the <percentage> datatype is added to the list of valid datatypes that can be accepted for the length-related minimum/optimum/maximum components of these datatypes. In other words, <percentage> is only a valid value for these properties in the sense that it is a valid short-form value. If that sense is the reason it is listed as a valid value in these properties, then certainly <length> should be listed as well. Of course, it is quite possible that I have misunderstood the whole thing, in which case any clarification that you can provide will be appreciated. Just to be clear, I am trying to make sure that a value like "86%" should be treated as an error in places where a <length> is accepted, unless there is an additional explicit stipulation that a <percentage> is also valid in that place.
The FO subgroup is proposing the following changes: -------------------------------------------------------- Normative text for 5.11, replacing the "Note": If a property allows <percentage> values, then it may be used in a short form. In properties which do not otherwise specify the semantics of a <percentage> value in the property definition, the resolved value of the <percentage>, a <length>, is applied to the <length> components and the initial value to all the non-<length> components of the compound property as above. Description of <percentage> value in 7.12.5, 7.12.6: remove (handled by the normative text above). ------------------------------------------------------- In accordance with the instructions at http://www.w3.org/XML/2008/01/xsl-fo-bugzilla.html#verify, please review the proposed resolution carefully and let the Working Group know whether it's acceptable or not.
Proposal accepted in http://lists.w3.org/Archives/Public/xsl-editors/2007JulSep/0005.html