[ODFPlugtest] writing implementation specific defaults

[Jan H Wildeboer]

Wouter van Vugt wrote:
> I don't really care about samples. The TC can figure that out.

Nope. You raised an argument and in order to understand it I ask for
some concrete examples. Without some concrete examples, this turns to a
flamewar without result - which noone wants.

If you want the TC to do something they don't do ATM, you better give
good reasons based on real-world problems.

> Sensible defaults --> define in spec
> Or --> always store in document

My problem is that I do not see what a sensible default could be and I
do suspect that the definition of where a default makes sense will lead
to long and winding discussions that only help a fraction of the end users.

IMHO - the document should be self-sustaining, containing enough
information to render it in the way intended.

> Then there is the second story of wanting to *view* a document in other
> apps like on your telephone. In which case the document might need a
> change of layout. However, that is an application feature. We cannot
> expect the ODF spec to cover how dynamic layout should occur. If I place
> an image 20 centimeters from the left border, that was my intention and
> I very much hope that someone in China sees it in that exact location
> too. Except when they open a similar view to the MS Office 2k7 Full
> Screen Reading layout. In that case the user expresses the intent of
> changing layout for improved readability, and hence layout quirks are
> acceptable. 

See - such examples as "place picture 20 cm from page border" are
document-centric definitions, used for rendering purposes when the media
can honour it. If I am blind and read stuff with braille equipment, it
makes no sense at all.

So I would always see defaults as *advice* but not as mandatory. It
really depends on the context your application is in. And this is
definitely always application specific. The storage format that ODF is
is simply not the best place to handle the usage of the content.

Jan

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