Re: [Docutils-develop] Name for new attribute

[David G. <go...@py...>]

Stefan Merten wrote:
> Since David seems to be decided to introduce the unholy attribute
> named ``class`` in HTML - could it get at least a correct name in
> reST?

No new attribute is being introduced.  The "class" attribute has been in 
Docutils since before it was named "Docutils" (added on 2002-02-04 in 
revision 1.32 of 
<http://cvs.sf.net/cgi-bin/viewcvs.cgi/docstring/dps/spec/gpdi.dtd>).  A 
new *directive* is being introduced to set the "class" attribute. 
Unholy or not, I don't see any good reason to change the name.

> However, in reST it should be more like a hint or so for a
> writer to create some special output style.

 From the comments in spec/docutils.dtd: "`class` is used to transmit 
individuality information forward."  In fact, I don't expect Writers to 
select on class attributes.  If possible, the attributes should be 
passed forward into the final renderer to interact with a stylesheet. 
Some formats may not support stylesheets, I know -- these formats should 
be able to ignore the class attributes or select on them, as they 
choose.  There's room for improvement there.

> Ahm - prehaps it would be useful to explicitly think about the
> intended meaning of such an attribute instead of simply copying the
> meaning from HTML?

I think the name appropriately expresses the indended meaning.  I know 
of no other word that expresses that meaning better.  And the precedent 
from HTML is not a problem -- we don't need "not invented here" syndrome 
in Docutils.

> I can not come up with a really good suggestion though. Probably it's
> better to leave that to the English native speakers anyway.

If anybody does, please let us know.  But it's probably too late to be 
making a change.

-- 
David Goodger    http://starship.python.net/~goodger

Programmer/sysadmin for hire: http://starship.python.net/~goodger/cv