Blank Node as default termtype if nothing is provided?

[chrdebru]

https://github.com/chrdebru/rml-core/blob/missing-test/shapes/expression_map.ttl

Implements the following:

    # Exactly one rml:template, one rml:constant, one rml:reference,
    # one rml:returnMap, or one rml:functionExecution is required.

We, however, allow no such thing for subject maps and object maps (and arguably graph maps) as well. The iterations are then used to generate blank nodes. Should we remove the mincount?

[DylanVanAssche]

This construct you mention is to enforce that any of these options is picked (so minCount == 1) and also that you don't put multiple of these options (maxCount == 1).

allow no such thing for subject maps and object maps (and arguably graph maps)

I cannot follow here. Each of these maps must have exactly one of these options right? A subject map must have a template/constant/reference/... right?
You can enforce it more strict in the specific maps though if needed.

[DylanVanAssche]

Rethinking this issue: is this when you have rml:termType rml:BlankNode without a template?
If that's the only 'exception' to the rule, we should maybe define this restriction:

IF termType == BlankNode
  minCount = 0
ELSE
  minCount = 1

?

[chrdebru]

Yes, but what if no rml:termType is provided? I'm also thinking about the Gather Maps, and it is difficult (impossible?) to "overwrite" shapes in SHACL. My approach is more: if no rml:template, rml:reference, and rml:constant, then the rml:termType is assumed to be rml:BlankNode. This rule would work with predicate maps as well as the inferred term type blank node violates the rml:termType rr:IRI constraint.

[DylanVanAssche]

Yes, but what if no rml:termType is provided?

There should be a default which should be used. For SubjectMaps this is IRI. It will be a 'fun' job to actually check this in SHACL shapes...

and it is difficult (impossible?) to "overwrite" shapes in SHACL.

I'm not sure how you can overwrite things I'm afraid... It is purely an AND/OR/XOR story AFAIK. Correct me if I'm wrong.

[chrdebru]

I would argue that the default when no constant, template, or reference is provided should be blank nodes. That's the only thing that you can generate based on the iteration. Defaults can be "inferred" once you have one of them.

[dachafra]

This depends on the final decision of #52

[dachafra]

I think this issue is a bit more complicated and needs more discussion.

The proposal from @chrdebru is: "if nothing is provided (constant, reference or template) the default value should be a BN". If I'm not confused, this creates a problem, as we could end up with TM without SM or OM. At this moment, the default term types section allows IRIs or Literals depending on the properties defined within the term map, but no default value for BN.

For generating random BN (see #245), we say: If the term type is explicitly defined to be a rml:BlankNode, a term map MAY not have an expression map. Then an RML Processor MUST generate a random value for the blank node.

For the sake of simplicity, I would maintain this behaviour, and mark this issue as working-group.