David, XML/EDI list,

The 17 property words of DoD 8320.1-M-1 were carefully selected over the
course of many years within DoD's data administration function. This list of
17 words appears to enable semantics conflict resolution in the simplest
manner. By forcing any data element concept (see ISO/IEC 11179 Part 1 for a
definition) to a common starting point (one of 17 properties) it appears to
be a viable way of aligning data element concepts that are semantically
equal but have been assigned different names. 

It has been my experience within industry and shared by those within the DoD
data administration function that the 17 property words are intuitive,
mutually exclusive, and seemingly exhaustive. The committee I chaired within
the CALS Industry Steering Group was tasked with defining a means for
integrating the data within the enterprise. The UDEF was the result.

The 17 UDEF property words (class words within DoD 8320.1-M-1) are as
follows:

*       Amount - A monetary value.
*       Angle - The rotational measurement between two lines and/or planes
diverging from a common point and/or line.
*       Area - The two dimensional measurement of a surface expressed in
unit squares.
*       Code - A combination of one or more numbers, letters, or special
characters substituted for a specific meaning.
*       Coordinate - One of a set of values which identifies the location of
a point.
*       Date - The notation of a specific period of time.
*       Dimension - A one dimensional measured linear distance.
*       Identifier - A combination of one or more numbers, letters, or
special characters which designates a specific object and/or entity, but has
no readily definable meaning.
*       Mass - The measure of inertia of a body.
*       Name - A designation of an object and/or entity expressed in a word
or phrase.
*       Quantity - A nonmonetary numeric value.
*       Rate - A quantitative expression that represents the numeric
relationship between two measurable units.
*       Temperature - The measure of heat in an object.
*       Text - An unformatted character string generally in the form of
words.
*       Time - A notation of a specified chronological point within a
period.
*       Volume - A measurement of space occupied by a three dimensional
figure.
*       Weight - The force with which an object is attracted toward the
earth and/or other celestial body by gravitation.

Based on experience, it appears that any data element concept property can
be mapped into one of these 17 property words. For example, velocity is a
type of "rate" and part number is a type of "identifier"

Ron Schuldt





> ----------
> From:         David RR Webber[SMTP:[EMAIL PROTECTED]]
> Sent:         Monday, May 01, 2000 9:53 AM
> To:   INTERNET:[EMAIL PROTECTED]
> Cc:   [EMAIL PROTECTED]; [EMAIL PROTECTED];
> [EMAIL PROTECTED]
> Subject:      RE: "Tower of Babel" or Bizcodes, UDEF (standard tag IDs)
> 
> Message text written by INTERNET:[EMAIL PROTECTED]
> >
> The UDEF naming convention conforms to the requirements of ISO/IEC 11179
> and
> uses the same 17 property words (class words) as those specified by DoD
> 8320.1-M-1. Each data element within DoD's data dictionary (based on DoD's
> Enterprise-wide Data Model) uses one of the 17 property words. Each data
> element within MIL-STD-2549, Configuration Management Data Interface was
> named based on the UDEF naming convention. See Appendix C to MIL-STD-2549
> at
> http://www.acq.osd.mil/io/se/cm&dm/cm&dm_pubs.htm
> <<<<<<<<<<<<<
> 
> Ron,
> 
> Perhaps it would clarify if you could pen some lines on the purpose behind
> the
> idea of having 17 property words - and how this is applicable more
> generally?
> 
> Obviously in a global context you can translate the 17 words into local
> usage.
> 
> As we wrestle with the issues of BPR and Core Components within ebXML,
> I'm seeing the top down can often get very confusing for the lay person -
> or
> someone who just understands the business domain - but not the
> technobabble!
> 
> I'm always trying to distill out what will work at the bottom up - so that
> the two 
> world can co-exist without tripping each other up.  The Army seems to
> avoid
> words at all cost afterall - its that A317-B12 you are needing, etc!
> 
> At the end of the day some Army Quartermaster has to understand how his
> warehouse is organized, and where that actual physical part really is!
> 
> DW.
> 
> 

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