Generic Link:
Public working draft overview
Public Working Draft dated 2008-04-25
This document:
	gnl-overview-PWD-2008-04-25.rtf
is non-normative.
Editors
Geoff Shuetrim	geoff@galexy.net	Galexy	
Abstract
This document explains the various materials issued as a part of the third Generic Link public working draft.  In light of the stability of the specification since the last public working draft, this public working draft is issued with a last call for comments.
Status
Circulation of this Public Working Draft is unrestricted.  Recipients of this draft are invited to submit comments to formula-feedback@xbrl.org, and to submit notification of any relevant patent rights of which they are aware and to provide supporting documentation.

Table of Contents
1Introduction	1
2PWD content	1
3Major changes since the previous PWD	2
A. Intellectual Property Status (non-normative)	2
B. Document History (non-normative)	2
C. Approval process (non‑normative)	2

1	Introduction
This document provides an overview of this Public Working Draft (PWD).  It lists the various materials included in the PWD.  It also lists the changes since the previous PWD.
2	PWD content
The PWD includes:
•	requirements;
•	a generic link specification; and
•	a non-normative schema.
3	Comments and changes since the previous PWD
There are relatively few changes in the generic link specification since the previous PWD.  They are as follows:
Substantive Corrections 
Cliff Binstock: In sections 2.1.1. and 2.2.1, the documentation says that "usedOn" MUST point to the gen:link and gen:arc. However, the corresponding sections 2.1 and 2.2 state that the it is valid to have generic links and arcs in the substitution groups of gen:link and gen:arc. Presumably the corresponding usedOn elements would point to the substitution group element. 
•	RESOLVED: The requirements relating to the content of the link:usedOn element have been re-expressed in a manner that allows for generic links that are not the gen:link element and for generic arcs that are not the gen:arc element. 
Trivial corrections 
Walter Hamscher: The example in appendix B is not valid XML Schema. 
•	RESOLVED: Geoff Shuetrim has changed and validated the XML Schema. It now has a looser content model but is conformant with the restrictions imposed by its substitution group membership. 
Walter Hamscher: The example in appendix B has an odd namespace prefix declaration and no XML Schema namespace prefix declaration. 
•	RESOLVED: Geoff Shuetrim has used the standard XML Schema namespace prefix for the markup in the example and declared the prefix. Geoff Shuetrim has also removed the odd namespace prefix (it belonged to the markup being used for the Generic Link Specification itself and was an artifact of the HTML rendering process). 
Drafting enhancements 
Hugh Wallis: Add the copyright and (non-normative) disclaimer info to the schema as well as the explanation of the schema maintenance policy, just like the base specification ones do. 
•	RESOLVED: Done. 
Walter Hamscher: Appendix B could use an example showing an extended link for describing relationships to elements in an XBRL instance. 
•	RESOLVED: An additional example of such a custom link has been added. 
Cliff Binstock: Error codes should be defined for each MUST constraint. 
�	RESOLVED: This has been done. 

A. Intellectual Property Status (non-normative)
This document and translations of it may be copied and furnished to others, and derivative works that comment on or otherwise explain it or assist in its implementation may be prepared, copied, published and distributed, in whole or in part, without restriction of any kind, provided that the above copyright notice and this paragraph are included on all such copies and derivative works.  However, this document itself may not be modified in any way, such as by removing the copyright notice or references to XBRL International or XBRL organizations, except as required to translate it into languages other than English.  Members of XBRL International agree to grant certain licenses under the XBRL International Intellectual Property Policy (www.xbrl.org/legal).
This document and the information contained herein is provided on an "AS IS" basis and XBRL INTERNATIONAL DISCLAIMS ALL WARRANTIES, EXPRESS OR IMPLIED, INCLUDING BUT NOT LIMITED TO ANY WARRANTY THAT THE USE OF THE INFORMATION HEREIN WILL NOT INFRINGE ANY RIGHTS OR ANY IMPLIED WARRANTIES OF MERCHANTABILITY OR FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE.
The attention of users of this document is directed to the possibility that compliance with or adoption of XBRL International specifications may require use of an invention covered by patent rights. XBRL International shall not be responsible for identifying patents for which a license may be required by any XBRL International specification, or for conducting legal inquiries into the legal validity or scope of those patents that are brought to its attention. XBRL International specifications are prospective and advisory only. Prospective users are responsible for protecting themselves against liability for infringement of patents.  XBRL International takes no position regarding the validity or scope of any intellectual property or other rights that might be claimed to pertain to the implementation or use of the technology described in this document or the extent to which any license under such rights might or might not be available; neither does it represent that it has made any effort to identify any such rights.  Members of XBRL International agree to grant certain licenses under the XBRL International Intellectual Property Policy (www.xbrl.org/legal).
B. Document History (non-normative)
Date	Editor	Summary	
2007-03-02	Geoff Shuetrim	First draft.	
2007-04-09	Geoff Shuetrim	Updated for the second working draft	
			
C. Approval process (non-normative)
This document will not be released as a part of any final recommendation.