Re: Use of LIST-EXTENDED

[Arnt Gulbrandsen <arnt@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>]

Alexey Melnikov writes:
> Arnt Gulbrandsen wrote:
> > I'm trying to use it, and I want to use it. My major problems have 
> > been dealt with. The extended data items trip me up, though: My data 
> > aren't easily expressed as a list of nstrings.
>
> Can you elaborate on this?

Sure. I'm trying to, but the internet-drafts editor is sitting on the 
document ;) I want to return a search. (The search has been sent to the 
server earlier.)

I can either invent some syntax that fits in nstring or use search-key. 
I can either enclose the lot on a single nstring or use some real 
syntax. That makes four possibilities.

Sending a single nstring containing (search-key 1*(SP search-key)), all 
quoted, is bad, IMO. Quoting hell, and difficult to express in ABNF.

Sending a single nstring containing some new syntax is almost as bad. 
Inventing new search syntax just because of how listext defined future 
syntax? That's the tail wagging the dog.

Etc.

Sending search-key is the right thing to do, but the extended data 
options don't allow it, since that may not be parsable as a list of 
nstrings.

Arnt