Re: Formal Grammar — some thoughts

[Michel Fortin]

Le 1 août 2006 à 20:45, Allan Odgaard a écrit :


> On 2/8/2006, at 1:44, Michel Fortin wrote:

>

>> [...] For an item to contain block-level content

>

> I assume this rule applies only to *list* items? Given that e.g.  

> block quoted text does not show the problem I demonstrated.


Indeed, it applies solely to list items (and somewhat similarly to  
definition list items in PHP Markdown Extra).



>> it must be separated by a blank line from the previous or the next  

>> item (it must not be the sole item in the list), or it must  

>> contain one or more blank line.

>

> Okay, so the following should not start block quoting (which it does):

>

>       * bla bla

>         > bla bla

>

> Is the rule defined somewhere? and if so, what is the rationale?


Good question. This has not been documented if I'm correct. It is  
only *defined* in Markdown's code that no blank line means span-level  
content... which means that the rationale could very well be that it  
never got taken care of.



> I find the need for additional lines around list items irritating  

> because then that list item will get wrapped in `<p>…</p>` making  

> it visually stand out. A common problem when working with nested  

> block level constructs (including just nested lists.)


Usually, when I write lists, all of my items have either span-level  
content (+ sublists) or block-level content, not a mix of items in  
the two modes.

I think I'm simply failing to see the problem you have to solve.  
Could I ask for a concrete example of what you want?



> Also, I take it that a list item not wrapped in `<p>…</p>` or  

> containing block level constructs is itself not considered a block  

> level thing, seeing how nested lists defy your rule.


Yes, nested lists *are* an exception. If you want the exact reason it  
was made like that, only John can give a definitive answer, but I'd  
suggest that it's because sublists are something useful and pretty  
commonly used that way in HTML.


Michel Fortin
michel.fortin at michelf.com
http://www.michelf.com/