[SIAv2] query params

[Patrick Dowler]

Yes, the / separated range syntax was adopted from other (non-astro) 
syntax. IIRC, it is used in date ranges in ISO8601 and also in some 
successful GIS-related systems. Basically, you want to be ale to specify 
ranges and a non-space separator allows you to leave one or both ends 
unbounded.

eg:

1/2 aka 1 to 1
1/  aka 1 to +inf
/2  aka -inf to 2

It is part of SSA-1.x now and so far just one voice calling to abolish 
of such things :-) My opinion is that we need these more complex data 
types (intervals and geometry) as they concisely describe values we use 
all the time *and* adopting this approach makes for more robust software.

Having said that, I don't care much about the actual syntax of the 
interval or geometry, but we do need these data types. But, as data 
types they would not come with embedded metadata, which is why STC was 
deemed the wrong tool for this job.

Pat


On 11/13/2013 06:44 AM, Gretchen Greene wrote:
> Is there some history to the RANGE syntax and value added by changing existing very simple STC-s syntax

-- 

Patrick Dowler
Canadian Astronomy Data Centre
National Research Council Canada
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Victoria, BC V9A 2L9

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