Grouper Developers Forum

["Jessica Bibbee" <>]

MACE-Dir-Groups Conference Call
April 5, 2006

*Participants*
Tom Barton, U. Chicago (chair)
Blair Christensen, U. Chicago
Minh Nguyen, Stanford U.
Joy Veronneau, U. Cornell
Gary Brown, U. Bristol
Brendan Bellina, USC
Ann West, EDUCAUSE/Internet2
Nate Klingenstein, Internet2
Steve Olshansky, Internet2
Jessica Bibbee, Internet2 (scribe)

New *Action Items*
[AI] {Minh} will propose a test for sorting and/or write the code and send to the list for discussion.
[AI] {Tom} will send a note out regarding I2MM plans.

*Discussion*
Gary incorporated feedback from the previous WG call into the export XML work <http://portal.bris.ac.uk/grouper-ui-docs/grouperxml/fset.htm>. Five pages show examples of XML for:

Repository:
     - stem tags rather than path
     - include name, displayName and id attributes for Groups and stems
     - export subjects with IDs not identifiers, unless groups
     - don't export base attributes under groupTypes
     - exportParams now distinct from options
Group:
     - any collection of Groups exported
     - stems not exported, so no hierarchy
     - standard options used to control what info is exported
     - can import this format
Stem
     - any collection of Stems exported
     - hierarchy not exported
     - can import this format
Subjects
     - any collection of Subjects exported
     - can specify which additional attributes to export
Membership.
     - any collection of Memberships exported

The Group discussed comments and query parameters, and if there was a filter for modifications, as opposed to expressing conventions within a comment. Other ideas included provisioning methods - whether or not groups modified could be pulled at a set frequency. XML import/export is not a tool to use if you are looking to move a stem location.

{Blair} is continuing work on Grouper v1.0 group math support. {Gary} will follow up this work and incorporate it into the UI once it is farther along. The arrival of the Grouper v1.0 release is anticipated in early May.

The Group explored varying methods of sorting subjects, groups, and stems. What is the most efficient way to do sorting? Would it be better to have a backend system do the sorting for you, as opposed to the API? [AI] {Minh} will propose a test for sorting and/or write the code and send to the list for discussion.

There will be several opportunities for the Group to convene at the Spring Internet2 Member Meeting <http://events.internet2.edu/2006/spring-mm/>. [AI] {Tom} will send a note out regarding I2MM plans.

The next scheduled MACE-Dir-Groups WG call will be Wednesday, 3-May at 12pm ET.