On Tue, May 21, 2002 at 11:33:38AM +0200, Janifer Gatenby wrote:
> In implementations with which I have been involved punctuation is converted
> to either space or null for indexing purposes.  Parsers still have the
> problem of determining whether the punctuation is part of the instruction or
> data.  If it is certain that it is data, then it converts to null or blank
> with the same rules as it uses for indexing.  If it thinks that it is an
> instruction, then it converts it to a null and acts on the instruction.
>
> Janifer

I agree that some implementations do this, but my point was more that
Z39.50 does not *mandate* it. You can configure our system to do this,
or not to do this (and lots of other variations). I was just pointing
out that to be generic for all Z39.50, I don't believe CQL should make
more assumptions than Z39.50. Thus terms I think should be sent through
to the server with all punctuation etc. The server then should normalize
it (because it, and only it, knows the rules that the server uses).

I don't think we are disagreeing with each other - I only wanted to
make sure people we keeping the general problem in mind, not just a
solution for a specific implementation.

Alan