Re: Service Provider Database

[Bastien Nocera <hadess hadess net>]

On Mon, 2008-06-02 at 15:12 +0300, Antti Kaijanmäki wrote:
> ma, 2008-06-02 kello 12:48 +0100, Bastien Nocera kirjoitti:
> > On Mon, 2008-06-02 at 14:39 +0300, Antti Kaijanmäki wrote:
> > > Hello,
> > > 
> > > one part of my project is to create and specify a database for service
> > > provider specific settings. I've created an example page in
> > > live.gnome.org[1]. Please, comment if you find something missing or you
> > > disagree. I will begin with the implementation next week. 
> > 
> > Will you be using the XML file I sent as an example?
> 
> I could use it, but I would have to write a conversion script from your
> XML format to the format we decide to use. I rather modify my existing
> python script instead and make direct conversion from the last GPRS EC
> database.

I believe I've also posted the Perl script that generated the output,
which does the country code conversion, and tags the providers properly.

> > Also, I don't think that the <gsm> and <cdma> tags are really that
> > useful, they could be properties of the provider instead (or do we have
> > any providers that do both?).
> 
> with properties you mean attributes? If so then w3school says[1]:
> "There are no rules about when to use attributes and when to use
> elements. Attributes are handy in HTML. In XML my advice is to avoid
> them. Use elements instead."
> And I prefer elements :)
> 
> If a service provider offers different types of subscriptions then there
> would be provider element for every different type and the name element
> would distinguish the types from each other. 
> 
> <provider>
>    <name>Service Provider - CDMA</name>
>    <cdma />
> </provider>
> <provider>
>    <name>Service Provider - GSM</name>
>    <gsm>
>       <apn>internet</apn>
>    </gsm>
> </provider>
> <provider>
>    <name>Service Provider - GSM prepaid</name>
>    <gsm>
>       <apn>prepaid.provider</apn>
>    </gsm>
> </provider>

I'd rather have:
<provider type="gsm">
 <name>Service Provider - GSM prepaid</name>
  <apn>prepaid.provider</apn>
</provider>
   
Or at least:

<provider type="gsm">
  <gsm />
  <name>Service Provider - GSM prepaid</name>
  <apn>prepaid.provider</apn>
</provider>

Whether they're GSM or CDMA is a property of the provider.

> The user would see a drop-down menu with items:
> Service Provider - CDMA
> Service Provider - GSM
> Service Provider - GSM prepaid

Cheers