At 4:51 PM -0800 1/21/99, Michael Bernstein wrote:
Dave G wrote:
Comments? Thank you Thank you Thank you. I have been struggeling with a metaphor for exactly that. You have put it into words for me, "Lattice" is an excellent name. I agree with you completely that this would be a great addition to Zope!
Let me just clarify, I am not proposing a major change to the zope interface. the current 'tree' structure of a site is just too useful. I am suggesting however, that in order to accomplish multiple inheritance, alternative path navigation, and other 'Good Things', that we have the ability to add 'branch' type folderish objects that can contain other 'branches' or 'leaves'. Other objects lower in the main heirarchy can be assigned to a 'leaf' in each additional 'branch' above them.
This in essence, would let us: 1) factor content and functionality that we currently cannot (or at least, not as easily). ('is a' inheritance) 2) provide alternative navigation to the same content ('in a' inheritance) 2a) path dependent navigation and content rendering (by giving precedence to the path taken, where properties or methods conflict) 2b) explicit and simple path analysis from server logs
I think I'm repeating myself. Add to the list if you can think of other applications.
As with any powerful tool, there is potential for abuse, and someone could easily construct a site that was incredibly convoluted and unmaintainable, if they weren't careful.
to help avoid that, you would probably want to disallow assigning a leaf in one tree to a leaf in another tree for example. Or maybe not.
What do you all think?
Michael
Correct, I don't see a need to change Zope's structure, but some tools to use it's features in a non linear manner would be nice. 3) dynamic creation or shaping of properties based on navigation paths. 4) alternative rendering of content based on instance 4a) 'if in a' else 'in b' Does that make sense? DAve. "On the Plains of Hesitation bleach the bones of countless millions who, at the Dawn of Victory, sat down to wait, and waiting -- died"