Mark -
In MODS (the cartographics element) you specify points; in DC (the bounding
box) you specify lines. You specify a point (in MODS) with a pair of
coordinates. You specify a line (in DC) with a single coordinate (which
defines an east-west or a north-south line). So yes there is an
incompatibility: MODS calls for a pair of coordinates while DC calls for a
single coordinate (in each "coordinate statement").
The requirement for two coordinates in a coordinate statement could be
relaxed in the next MODS version, 3.4 (which we're working on now), with a
slight revison to the guidelines
http://www.loc.gov/standards/mods/v3/mods-userguide-elements.html, allowing
a "statement of coordinates" to instead be a single coordinate (rather than
a pair), so that it signifies an east, west, north, or south boundary - a
line rather than a point. This would be a minor change that would not
require a major revision (old instances would still validate).
But we think further discussion of this in necessary before we would want to
make such a change. You ask: "is there any way to represent the sides of a
bounding box (not the corners of a polygon) in MODS?". Well, yes and no.
Yes you can do it, but no, not without specifying the corners. But the
corners implicitly specify the sides. If the essence of your question is
"can you do it in a manner compatible with DC?" then no, not in version 3.3.
So, we would like to better understand the requirements. (There are a number
of potential ways that the cartographics element could be enhanced, for
example, reference to external schemas.) We invite discussion on this.
--Ray
----- Original Message -----
From: "Mark Diggory" <[log in to unmask]>
To: <[log in to unmask]>
Sent: Tuesday, July 15, 2008 12:46 AM
Subject: [MODS] mods:cartography/mods:coordinates
Hello,
So I've come across this thread online about mods:coordinates. And
now I'm seeing an incompatable case while attempting to map DCMI Box
to MODS. Apparently, DCMI Box is defined to be a Bounding Box (or
Window) representing a rectangular area on a map.
http://dublincore.org/documents/dcmi-box/
Since mods:coordinates are "points" one cannot use them easily to
produce a bounding box without having to also convert from points to
sides (and vis versa).
My question, is there any way to represent the sides of a bounding
box (not the corners of a polygon) in MODS?
thanks,
Mark
~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Mark R. Diggory - DSpace Developer and Systems Manager
MIT Libraries, Systems and Technology Services
Massachusetts Institute of Technology
Home Page: http://purl.org/net/mdiggory/homepage
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