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Re: Procedure for approving small dictionary updates

Two problems:

This system defaults to approval even if there is no comment; and

The time limits are too short for the summer, when people may be away
for a full month and need to catch up after that.

I would suggest the default change from automatic approval, to "expedited 
approval" by the COMCIFS chair or designee if no objection is raised to 
such handling withing 6 weeks of entry on the COMCIFS discussions list.

This would allow more time for people who are away for full month to ctach 
up on their email and would ensure that at least one person (the COMCIFS 
chair or designee) had to actually read and think about and say something 
about the proposal before it was approved.

I would suggest this proposal be applied to all dictionaries, including 
mmCIF, imgCIF and pdbx.

Regards,
   Herbert


=====================================================
  Herbert J. Bernstein, Professor of Computer Science
    Dowling College, Kramer Science Center, KSC 121
         Idle Hour Blvd, Oakdale, NY, 11769

                  +1-631-244-3035
                  yaya@dowling.edu
=====================================================

On Wed, 19 Aug 2009, James Hester wrote:

> Dear COMCIFS members,
>
> Currently the procedure for making any changes to the dictionaries
> requires putting those changes to a formal vote on the COMCIFS list.
> This may be seen as heavy-handed for small updates and additions.
> Following discussions with David B I would like to propose the
> following fast-track procedure for dealing with minor updates to the
> dictionaries:
>
> 1. Anybody can propose a change to the core dictionary either through
> the IUCr web site or by contacting the chair of the appropriate DMG.
>
> 2. In conjunction with the DMG chair, they can work out a proposal for
> new dictionary code.
>
> 3. This code is then submitted to the DMG for comment and eventual approval.
>
> 4. The change is then posted to the COMCIFS discussion list for
> comment within a given time limit.
>
> 5. If no comment is received, or if all the comments are resolved, the
> change is accepted, otherwise it is refered back to the DMG.
>
> I suggest that a 'small change' is one that creates no new categories
> and affects no more than two definitions.
> A one month time limit for initiating comments seems about right to
> me, as it should allow those that happen to be on holiday to make it
> back in time.
>
> Should COMCIFS approve this procedure or something similar, I have a
> proposed update that we can test the procedure with.
>
> Best wishes,
> James Hester
> -- 
> T +61 (02) 9717 9907
> F +61 (02) 9717 3145
> M +61 (04) 0249 4148
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