Path: utzoo!utgpu!news-server.csri.toronto.edu!cs.utexas.edu!samsung!zaphod.mps.ohio-state.edu!usc!orion.oac.uci.edu!ucivax!gateway
From: mark@cbmark.cbcc.att.COM (Mark Horton)
Newsgroups: comp.protocols.iso.x400
Subject: Re:  ISO/CCITT meeting report, Munich July 1990
Message-ID: <9008081714.AA10475@cbmark.cbcc.att.com>
Date: 8 Aug 90 18:56:35 GMT
Lines: 47
Approved: usenet@ICS.UCI.EDU
Autoforwarded: true

--- begin included message ---

Visual representation of OR-addresses
-------------------------------------

Three formats had been compared:

(a) ...

(b) An abbreviated labelled format, something like this:

C=SE; ADMD=TEDE; PRMD=QZ; GN=John; SN=Peterson

(c) A very concise format, something like this:

John/Peterson//QZ//TEDE/SE

That the abbreviated labelled format combined with a form-
fill-in user interface also gave good performance.

That the abbreviated labelled format combined with a single-
string user interface gave bad performance and many errors.

That the concise format combined with a single-string user
interface gave speedy input but a higher error rate (mostly
confusing "/" and "//" when typing in the string).

Based on these results, the group concluded that the
abbreviated labelled format should be recommended. (This
format only works well in combination with a form-fill-in user
interface, but which user interface to recommend is outside
the scope of present standards).
---- end included message ---

Of course, if you use the /= syntax with the abbreviated/labelled semantics,
as the gateway apparently did:

X400-Received: by /PRMD=QZ/ADMD=TEDE/C=SE/; Relayed; 01 Aug 90 13:13:50+0200

you'll get the best of both worlds: low error rate and the ability to use
with both form-fill-in and single-string user interfaces (which implies
compatibility with most of the software currently in use in the world.)

It is a shame that the concise form proved hard for users to handle, but
I think I agree with the results.

	Mark