How should a two-digit airport runway number be represented in XML?

Roger L Costello <[email protected]> Mon, 24 Jun 2024 15:17:44 +0000
Newsgroups gmane.text.xml.devel
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Hi Folks,

"Runways, all runways, have a 2-digit number that represents the magnetic h=
eading of the runway to the nearest 10 degrees. If the runway's heading is =
265 - 274 degrees, then the runway number is 27 - always drop the last "0."=
 The opposite end of the runway is 180 degrees apart, so Runway 09 (90 degr=
ees)."

How to represent a runway number in XML?

Specifically, how to represent Runway 09?

Like this:

<runwayNumber>09</runwayNumber>

Or like this:

<runwayNumber>9</runwayNumber>

One might argue that the former is better because it reflects how runways a=
re actually numbered at airports - with exactly two digits.

On the other hand, one might argue that the latter is better because the va=
lue is an integer and the removal of the leading zero puts the integer into=
 a normalized/standardized representation. You might further argue that XML=
 is for machine processing and machines don't need the leading zero. If the=
 runway number needs to be visually displayed to humans, then a zero can be=
 prepended as desired.

What do you think? Which form is better?

/Roger

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<p class=3D"MsoNormal"><span style=3D"font-family:&quot;Calibri&quot;,sans-=
serif">Hi Folks,<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class=3D"MsoNormal"><span style=3D"font-family:&quot;Calibri&quot;,sans-=
serif"><o:p>&nbsp;</o:p></span></p>
<p class=3D"MsoNormal"><span style=3D"font-family:&quot;Calibri&quot;,sans-=
serif">&quot;<i>Runways, all runways, have a 2-digit number that represents=
 the magnetic heading of the runway to the nearest 10 degrees. If the runwa=
y's heading is 265 &#8212; 274 degrees, then the runway number
 is 27 &#8212; always drop the last &#8220;0.&#8221; The opposite end of th=
e runway is 180 degrees apart, so Runway 09 (90 degrees).</i>&quot;
<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class=3D"MsoNormal"><span style=3D"font-family:&quot;Calibri&quot;,sans-=
serif"><o:p>&nbsp;</o:p></span></p>
<p class=3D"MsoNormal"><span style=3D"font-family:&quot;Calibri&quot;,sans-=
serif">How to represent a runway number in XML?<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class=3D"MsoNormal"><span style=3D"font-family:&quot;Calibri&quot;,sans-=
serif"><o:p>&nbsp;</o:p></span></p>
<p class=3D"MsoNormal"><span style=3D"font-family:&quot;Calibri&quot;,sans-=
serif">Specifically, how to represent Runway 09?<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class=3D"MsoNormal"><span style=3D"font-family:&quot;Calibri&quot;,sans-=
serif"><o:p>&nbsp;</o:p></span></p>
<p class=3D"MsoNormal"><span style=3D"font-family:&quot;Calibri&quot;,sans-=
serif">Like this:<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class=3D"MsoNormal"><span style=3D"font-family:&quot;Calibri&quot;,sans-=
serif"><o:p>&nbsp;</o:p></span></p>
<p class=3D"MsoNormal"><span style=3D"font-family:&quot;Calibri&quot;,sans-=
serif">&lt;runwayNumber&gt;09&lt;/runwayNumber&gt;<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class=3D"MsoNormal"><span style=3D"font-family:&quot;Calibri&quot;,sans-=
serif"><o:p>&nbsp;</o:p></span></p>
<p class=3D"MsoNormal"><span style=3D"font-family:&quot;Calibri&quot;,sans-=
serif">Or like this:<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class=3D"MsoNormal"><span style=3D"font-family:&quot;Calibri&quot;,sans-=
serif"><o:p>&nbsp;</o:p></span></p>
<p class=3D"MsoNormal"><span style=3D"font-family:&quot;Calibri&quot;,sans-=
serif">&lt;runwayNumber&gt;9&lt;/runwayNumber&gt;<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class=3D"MsoNormal"><span style=3D"font-family:&quot;Calibri&quot;,sans-=
serif"><o:p>&nbsp;</o:p></span></p>
<p class=3D"MsoNormal"><span style=3D"font-family:&quot;Calibri&quot;,sans-=
serif">One might argue that the former is better because it reflects how ru=
nways are actually numbered at airports - with exactly two digits.<o:p></o:=
p></span></p>
<p class=3D"MsoNormal"><span style=3D"font-family:&quot;Calibri&quot;,sans-=
serif"><o:p>&nbsp;</o:p></span></p>
<p class=3D"MsoNormal"><span style=3D"font-family:&quot;Calibri&quot;,sans-=
serif">On the other hand, one might argue that the latter is better because=
 the value is an integer and the removal of the leading zero puts the integ=
er into a normalized/standardized representation.
 You might further argue that XML is for machine processing and machines do=
n't need the leading zero. If the runway number needs to be visually displa=
yed to humans, then a zero can be prepended as desired.<o:p></o:p></span></=
p>
<p class=3D"MsoNormal"><span style=3D"font-family:&quot;Calibri&quot;,sans-=
serif"><o:p>&nbsp;</o:p></span></p>
<p class=3D"MsoNormal"><span style=3D"font-family:&quot;Calibri&quot;,sans-=
serif">What do you think? Which form is better?<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class=3D"MsoNormal"><span style=3D"font-family:&quot;Calibri&quot;,sans-=
serif"><o:p>&nbsp;</o:p></span></p>
<p class=3D"MsoNormal"><span style=3D"font-family:&quot;Calibri&quot;,sans-=
serif">/Roger</span><o:p></o:p></p>
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