The SGML-like version of frame (as well as the binary version) are
semantically the same -- they are both rereadable by the application
and fully modifiable. To me, this means that both formats fit
into the "text-plus" format.
This does not answer my question. Can I modify either one of them reasonably
without having the FrameMaker application handy? Are either of them meaningful
in any way if I don't have an image viewer?
I claim that for PostScript, TeX, and other subtypes grouped under Text-Plus,
the answer to these questions is yes. You have not answered my question in the
affirmative for FrameMaker yet. If you do, then it belongs under Text-Plus.
If you do not, it belongs under image.
This is, of course, just my opinion. You could register under a different
heading, but then you run the risk of not offering useful information to
users that don't have the equipment to deal with other types. This may in
fact be considered to be a "feature", for all I know.
Of course, this all falls back to the question of "what does the text-plus
category really encompass". There is clealy not a wide spread understanding
of the low-level meaning. By low level, I mean "given a format X, is it
of type text-plus? Image? Binary?" We've heard three different opinions
about what it will be.
This is up to the specification to nail down. As I said before, and I will
say again, if you want to tighten it up, that's fine -- commit some prose and
contribute it.
Is it just me, or is anyone else there worried about the day-to-day
operational problems of these type (class?) names? At the very least
we need to tighten up the definitions, and point out that binary is
the trash-can category for anything that didn't fit anywhere else.
I am not worried in the sense that you mean. I am worried that people will
not use registry services properly. I don't have an answer to that except to
say that a registry is vital and use of it is vital. I am not worried in the
slightest about operational problems if things are properly registered. The
worst that could possibly happen is that the top-level type becomes nothing
more than a vague hint, which is what you've been wanting all along. Thus,
I see the worst case is that you get what you have been proposing.
Ned