On Mon, Nov 17, 1997 at 02:16:57PM -0600, Sean Donelan wrote:
An object name like an ISBN does not need to be hierarchical because they do not describe discrete locations. Introducing hierarchy improves managability and efficiency of databasing. Many hierarchies can be imposed on object names.
If there isn't, there should be a theory in computer science with enough levels of indirection you can solve any problem, i.e. ISBN->Call Number->Shelf Location. Trick question: Does a LC Call number describe a location in a topology or an object name?
It maps a subject to a location in an (arbitrary) topology (ie: library shelves). Note that call number -> shelf location is a one to one (for sufficiently granular call numbers), but ISBN-> call number is _guaranteed_ to be one to one; ISBNae are unique. End of off topic thread. :-) Cheers, -- jra -- Jay R. Ashworth jra@baylink.com Member of the Technical Staff Unsolicited Commercial Emailers Sued The Suncoast Freenet "Two words: Darth Doogie." -- Jason Colby, Tampa Bay, Florida on alt.fan.heinlein +1 813 790 7592