Network Working GroupJ. Reschke
Internet-Draftgreenbytes
Intended status: ExperimentalDecember 2005
Expires: June 2006

Datatypes for  I ↓WebDAV pWeb Distributed Authoring and Versioning (WebDAV) Properties

draft-reschke-webdav-property-datatypes-latest

Note: a later version of this document has been published as RFC 4316.

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Copyright Notice

Copyright © The Internet Society (2005). All Rights Reserved.

Abstract

This specification extends the Web Distributed Authoring ↑ I ↓and VersioningProtocol (WebDAV) to support datatyping. Protocol elements are defined to let clients and servers specify the datatype, and to instruct the WebDAV method PROPFIND to return datatype information.

↑ I ↓ 

Editorial Note (To be removed by RFC Editor before publication)

Please send comments to the Distributed Authoring and Versioning (WebDAV) working group at <mailto:w3c-dist-auth@w3.org>, which may be joined by sending a message with subject "subscribe" to <mailto:w3c-dist-auth-request@w3.org>. Discussions of the WEBDAV working group are archived at <http://lists.w3.org/Archives/Public/w3c-dist-auth/>.

Note that although discussion takes place on the WebDAV working group's mailing list, this is not a working group document.

XML versions, latest edits and the issues list for this document are available from <http://greenbytes.de/tech/webdav/#draft-reschke-webdav-property-datatypes>.

 I  edit   (type: edit, status: open)
julian.reschke@greenbytes.de2004-07-08 Umbrella issue for editorial fixes/enhancements.
Associated changes in this document: <#rfc.change.edit.1>, <#rfc.change.edit.2>, <#rfc.change.edit.3>, 1, 1, 1, 1, 1, 1, 1, 2, 2, 2, 3, 3, 3, 3, 3, 3, 4.1, 4.2, 4.2, 4.3, 4.3, 4.3, 4.3, 5, 5, 5, 5, 5.1, 5.1, 5.1, 5.1, 6, 7, 7, 7, 7, 7, 7, 7, 8, <#rfc.change.edit.44>, 10, 10, 11.1, <#rfc.change.edit.48>, del-11.

1. Introduction

This specification builds on the infrastructure provided by the Web↑ I ↓DAV Distributed Authoring ↑ I ↓and Versioning (WebDAV)Protocol, adding support for data-typed properties.

Although servers must support XML content in property values, it may be desirable to persist values as scalar values when possible↑ I ↓, and to expose the data's type when the property value is returned to the client. The client is free to ignore this information, but it may be able to take advantage of it when modifying a property.

On the other hand, when setting new properties, it can be desirable to pass data↑ I ↓type information along with the value. A server can take advantage of this information to optimize storage and to perform additional parsing (for instance↑ I ↓, of dates). Servers that support searching can also take advantage of known data↑ I ↓types when doing comparisons and sorting.

The following potential datatyping↑ I ↓-related features were deliberately considered out of scope:

2. Notational Conventions

The key words "MUST", "MUST NOT", "REQUIRED", "SHALL", "SHALL NOT", "SHOULD", "SHOULD NOT", "RECOMMENDED", "MAY", and "OPTIONAL" in this document are to be interpreted as described in [RFC2119].

The term "property element" refers to the XML element that identifies a particular property, for instance↑ I ↓, 

     <getcontentlength xmlns="DAV:" />

The term "prop element" is used for the WebDAV "prop" element as defined in ↑ I ↓sSection 12.11 of [RFC2518].

The XML representation of schema components uses a vocabulary identified by the namespace name "http://www.w3.org/2001/XMLSchema". For brevity, the text and examples in this specification use the prefix "xs:" to stand for this namespace; in practice, any prefix can be used. "XML Schema↑ I ↓Part 1: Structures" ([XS1]) also defines several attributes for direct use in any XML documents. These attributes are in a different namespace named "http://www.w3.org/2001/XMLSchema-instance". For brevity, the text and examples in this specification use the prefix "xsi:" to stand for this latter namespace; in practice, any prefix can be used.

3. Overview

Although WebDAV property types can be anything that can be marshaled as content of an XML element, in many cases they actually are simple types like integers, booleans↑ I ↓, or dates. "XML Schema Part 2: Datatypes" [XS2] defines a set of simple types ↑ I ↓whichthat can be used as a basis for supplying type information to attributes.

Data↑ I ↓type information is represented using the attribute "type" from the XML Schema namespace "http://www.w3.org/2001/XMLSchema-instance". In XML Schema, data↑ I ↓types are qualified names, and the XML Schema recommendation defines a set of built-in datatypes (↑ I ↓sSection 3 of [XS2]), defined in the namespace "http://www.w3.org/2001/XMLSchema".

To avoid unnecessary verbosity, data↑ I ↓type information should only be supplied if it adds usable information to the protocol. In particular, type information is not required for live properties defined in WebDAV [RFC2518] and for properties of type "xs:string".

A server may implement any combination of datatypes, both from the XML Schema recommendation and possibly from other namespaces.

Note that a particular property can be typed for a number of reasons:

4. Changes for PROPPATCH methodChanges for PROPPATCH Method

If the property element has an XML attribute named "xsi:type", the server may use this information to select an optimized representation for storing the property value. For instance, by specifying a type as "xs:boolean", the client declares the property value to be of type boolean (as defined in [XS2]). The server may choose any suitable internal format for persisting this property, and in particular is allowed to fail the request if the format given does not fit the format defined for this type.

The server should indicate successful detection and parsing of the typed value by setting the xsi:type attribute on the property element in the response body (this implies that it should return a MULTISTATUS status code and a <multistatus> response body).

4.1. Example for successful PROPPATCHExample of Successful PROPPATCH

>>Request

PROPPATCH /bar.html HTTP/1.1
Host: example.org
Content-Type: text/xml; charset="utf-8"
Content-Length: xxxx

<?xml version="1.0" encoding="utf-8" ?>
<D:propertyupdate xmlns:D="DAV:"
   xmlns:xsi="http://www.w3.org/2001/XMLSchema-instance"
   xmlns:xs="http://www.w3.org/2001/XMLSchema"
   xmlns:Z="http://ns.example.org/standards/z39.50">
  <D:set>
    <D:prop>
      <Z:released xsi:type="xs:boolean">false</Z:released>
    </D:prop>
  </D:set>
</D:propertyupdate>

>>Response

HTTP/1.1 207 Multi-Status
Content-Type: text/xml; charset="utf-8"
Content-Length: xxxx

<?xml version="1.0" encoding="utf-8" ?>
<D:multistatus xmlns:D="DAV:"
   xmlns:xsi="http://www.w3.org/2001/XMLSchema-instance"
   xmlns:xs="http://www.w3.org/2001/XMLSchema"
   xmlns:Z="http://ns.example.org/standards/z39.50">
  <D:response>
    <D:href>http://example.org/bar.html</D:href>
    <D:propstat>
      <D:prop><Z:released xsi:type="xs:boolean" /></D:prop>
      <D:status>HTTP/1.1 200 OK</D:status>
    </D:propstat>
  </D:response>
</D:multistatus>

In this case↑ I ↓s, the xsi:type attribute on the element "Z:released" indicates that the server indeed has understood the submitted data type information.

4.2. Example for failed PROPPATCHExample of Failed PROPPATCH

>>Request

PROPPATCH /bar.html HTTP/1.1
Host: example.org
Content-Type: text/xml; charset="utf-8"
Content-Length: xxxx

<?xml version="1.0" encoding="utf-8" ?>
<D:propertyupdate xmlns:D="DAV:"
   xmlns:xsi="http://www.w3.org/2001/XMLSchema-instance"
   xmlns:xs="http://www.w3.org/2001/XMLSchema"
   xmlns:Z="http://ns.example.org/standards/z39.50">
  <D:set>
    <D:prop>
      <Z:released xsi:type="xs:boolean">t</Z:released>
    </D:prop>
  </D:set>
</D:propertyupdate>

>>Response

HTTP/1.1 207 Multi-Status
Content-Type: text/xml; charset="utf-8"
Content-Length: xxxx

<?xml version="1.0" encoding="utf-8" ?>
<D:multistatus xmlns:D="DAV:"
   xmlns:Z="http://ns.example.org/standards/z39.50">
  <D:response>
    <D:href>http://example.org/bar.html</D:href>
    <D:propstat>
      <D:prop><Z:released/></D:prop>
      <D:status>HTTP/1.1 422 Unprocessable Entity</D:status>
      <D:responsedescription>
        Does not parse as xs:boolean
      </D:responsedescription>
    </D:propstat>
  </D:response>
</D:multistatus>

In this case↑ I ↓, the request failed because the supplied value "t" is not a valid representation for a boolean value.

Note that similar error conditions can occur in the standard WebDAV protocol even though no data↑ I ↓type was specified: for instance, when a client tries to set a live property for which only a certain value space is allowed.

4.3. Example for successful PROPPATCH where type information was not preservedExample of Successful PROPPATCH Where Type Information Was Not Preserved

>>Request

PROPPATCH /bar.html HTTP/1.1
Host: example.org
Content-Type: text/xml; charset="utf-8"
Content-Length: xxxx

<?xml version="1.0" encoding="utf-8" ?>
<D:propertyupdate xmlns:D="DAV:"
   xmlns:xsi="http://www.w3.org/2001/XMLSchema-instance"
   xmlns:Z="http://ns.example.org/standards/z39.50">
  <D:set>
    <D:prop>
      <Z:released xsi:type="Z:custom">t</Z:released>
    </D:prop>
  </D:set>
</D:propertyupdate>

>>Response

HTTP/1.1 207 Multi-Status
Content-Type: text/xml; charset="utf-8"
Content-Length: xxxx

<?xml version="1.0" encoding="utf-8" ?>
<D:multistatus xmlns:D="DAV:"
   xmlns:xsi="http://www.w3.org/2001/XMLSchema-instance"
   xmlns:Z="http://ns.example.org/standards/z39.50">
  <D:response>
    <D:href>http://example.org/bar.html</D:href>
    <D:propstat>
      <D:prop><Z:released/></D:prop>
      <D:status>HTTP/1.1 200 OK</D:status>
    </D:propstat>
  </D:response>
</D:multistatus>

In this case↑ I ↓, the request succeeded, but the server did not know how to handle the data↑ I ↓type "Z:custom". Therefore↑ I ↓, no data↑ I ↓type information was returned in the response body.

5. Changes for PROPFIND methodChanges for PROPFIND Method

PROPFIND is extended to return the data↑ I ↓type information for properties by adding "xsi:type" attributes to the property elements unless one of the following conditions is met:

5.1. Example for PROPFIND/propExample of PROPFIND/prop

>>Request

PROPFIND /bar.html HTTP/1.1
Host: example.org
Content-Type: text/xml; charset="utf-8"
Content-Length: xxxx

<?xml version="1.0" encoding="utf-8" ?>
<D:propfind xmlns:D="DAV:"
  xmlns:Z="http://ns.example.org/standards/z39.50">
  <D:prop>
    <D:getcontenttype/>
    <Z:released/>
  </D:prop>
</D:propfind>

>>Response

HTTP/1.1 207 Multi-Status
Content-Type: text/xml; charset="utf-8"
Content-Length: xxxx

<?xml version="1.0" encoding="utf-8" ?>
<D:multistatus xmlns:D="DAV:"
   xmlns:Z="http://ns.example.org/standards/z39.50"
   xmlns:xsi="http://www.w3.org/2001/XMLSchema-instance"
   xmlns:xs="http://www.w3.org/2001/XMLSchema">
  <D:response>
    <D:href>http://example.org/bar.html</D:href>
    <D:propstat>
      <D:prop>
        <D:getcontenttype>text/html</D:getcontenttype> 
        <Z:released xsi:type="xs:boolean">1</Z:released>
      </D:prop>
      <D:status>HTTP/1.1 200 OK</D:status>
    </D:propstat>
  </D:response>
</D:multistatus>

This example shows that the property value "true" is returned with the correct data↑ I ↓type information↑ I ↓, and that the server chose one of the two possible representations defined in XML Schema. It also shows that data↑ I ↓type information is not returned for "D:getcontenttype", as this property's data↑ I ↓type is already defined in [RFC2518].

6. Changes for other methodsChanges for Other Methods

Servers that support other methods using the DAV:multistatus response format (such as the REPORT method defined in [RFC3253], ↑ I ↓sSection 3.6) SHOULD apply the same extensions as defined in Section 5.

7. Compatibility Considerations

This part of this specification does not introduce any new protocol elements, nor does it change the informal WebDAV DTD. It merely specifies additional server semantics for the case where clients submit additional data↑ I ↓type information in an attribute on the property element (previously undefined), and adds an additional attribute on property elements upon PROPFIND.

Clients not aware of datatype handling should not supply the "xsi:type" attribute on property elements (after all, this attribute belongs to the XML Schema-Instance namespace↑ I ↓, which has been defined for exactly this purpose↑ I ↓; see [XS1], Section 2.6.1). Old clients should also ignore additional attributes on property elements returned by PROPFIND (and similar methods), although the WebDAV specification only defines this behaviour for unknown elements ↑ I ↓(and is silent about unknown attributes)and is silent about unknown attributes (see [RFC2518], Section 23.3.2.2).

Servers not aware of datatype handling either drop the "xsi:type" attribute↑ I ↓, or persist itor have it persist along with the property value↑ I ↓(see [RFC2518], Section 4.4). However, they will never indicate successful parsing of the data↑ I ↓type by returning back the type in the response to PROPPATCH. Thus, clients can supply type information without having to poll for server support in advance.

8. Internationalization Considerations

This proposal builds on [RFC2518]↑ I ↓, and inherits its internationalizability.

9. Security Considerations

This protocol extension does not introduce any new security implications beyond those documented for the base protocol (see [RFC2518], Section 17).

↑ I ↓ 

del-1. IANA Considerations

This proposal does not introduce any new IANA considerations, since it does not specify any new namespaces (in the general sense), but merely uses existing ones.

10. Acknowledgements

This ↑ I ↓draftdocument has benefited from thoughtful discussion by Lisa Dusseault, Stefan Eissing, Eric Sedlar↑ I ↓, and Kevin Wiggen.

11. References

11.2. Informative References

[RFC3253]
Clemm, G., Amsden, J., Ellison, T., Kaler, C., and J. Whitehead, “Versioning Extensions to WebDAV”, RFC 3253, March 2002.
↑ I ↓ 

del-2. Change Log (to be removed by RFC Editor before publication)

del-3. Since 'draft-reschke-webdav-property-datatypes-00'

Editorial fixes. Changed examples to explicitly use utf-8 encoding for HTTP content type and XML encoding. Added example for marshalling array-typed properties.

del-4. Since 'draft-reschke-webdav-property-datatypes-01'

Fix width of artwork for IETF compliance. "Non-normative references" -> "Informative references".

del-5. Since 'draft-reschke-webdav-property-datatypes-02'

Added marshalling for property flags such as "hidden" and "protected". Moved array marshalling example into back section. Added rational and description for pf:property-displayname-set. Added acknowledgements section.

del-6. Since 'draft-reschke-webdav-property-datatypes-03'

Replaced domain names in examples according to RFC2606: "www.foo.com" by "example.org", "www.example.com" by "ns.example.org/standards/z39.50/standards/z39.50" and "www.w3.com/standards/z39.50" by "ns.example.org/standards/z39.50".

del-7. Since 'draft-reschke-webdav-property-datatypes-04'

Remove superfluous IP and copyright sections. Moved "Introduction" section to front.

del-8. Since 'draft-reschke-webdav-property-datatypes-05'

Added proposal for DAV:basicsearch operators for array-typed properties. Update all references.

del-9. Since 'draft-reschke-webdav-property-datatypes-06'

Reformat abstract. Remove property flags, displayname support and DASL extensions.

del-10. Since 'draft-reschke-webdav-property-datatypes-07'

Rewrite Editorial Note. Get rid of unnecessary sub section titles after removal of property flags and displayname support (no change tracking). Some typos fixed. Add and resolve issues "other-method-semantics", "1_clarify_scope", "7_discovery" and "a_remove_array_example". Removed unused reference to XML spec (no change tracking).

del-11. Since 'draft-reschke-webdav-property-datatypes-08'

Update XS2 reference. Add "Security Considerations" section.

del-12. Since 'draft-reschke-webdav-property-datatypes-09'

Update XS1 reference. Add references to "Compatibility Considerations" section. Author's address updated. Fixed language based on RFC Editor feedback.

Author's Address

Julian F. Reschke
greenbytes GmbH
Hafenweg 16
Muenster, NW 48155
Germany
Phone: +49 251 2807760
Fax: +49 251 2807761
EMail: julian.reschke@greenbytes.de
URI: http://greenbytes.de/tech/webdav/

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