BPMN2 — Page 223, Figure 10-57 Unclear usage of IsCollection attribute for DataOutput

Reported by dga...@trisotech.com, Jul 29, 2009

In Figure 10-57, we can see that the DataOutput has a isCollection
attribute as well as in Table 10-54 on page 224. The DataOutput also has
itemSubjectRef attribute that is inherited from ItemAwareElement. This
attribute is of type ItemDefinition and specifies the isCollection
attribute.

When we read the description on table 10-54 on page 224 for the
isCollection attribute the following: "Defines if the DataOutput
represents a collection of elements. This is a projection of the same
attribute of the referenced ItemDefinition."

I wonder why we need to have it defined both in DataOutput and
ItemDefinition if the attribute in DataOutput is the "same".

Is this denormalisation for the purpose of drawing a collection that has
not be concretized by a ItemDefinition?

(a) in Section 10.3.1 Data Modeling, Sub-Section "Data Object," page 184 (214 pdf), Table 10.47, first row, second column: Remove second sentence in table cell,
which was: This is a projection of the same attribute of the referenced ItemDefinition."
(b) in Section 10.3.1 Data Modeling, Sub-Section "Data Object," page 184 (214 pdf), Table 10.47, first row, second column: Add the following sentence after the
first sentence in table cell: "It is needed when no itemDefinition is referenced. If an itemDefinition is referenced, then this attribute MUST have the same value as the
isCollection attribute of the referenced itemDefinition. The default value for this attribute is "false"."
(c) in Section 10.3.1 Data Modeling, Sub-Section "Data Input," page 193 (223 pdf), Table 10.53, fifth row, second column: Remove second sentence in table cell,
which was: This is a projection of the same attribute of the referenced ItemDefinition."
(d) in Section 10.3.1 Data Modeling, Sub-Section "Data Object," page 293 (223 pdf), Table 10.53, fifth row, second column: Add the following sentence after the
first sentence in table cell: "It is needed when no itemDefinition is referenced. If an itemDefinition is referenced, then this attribute MUST have the same value as the
isCollection attribute of the referenced itemDefinition. The default value for this attribute is "false"."
(e) in Section 10.3.1 Data Modeling, Sub-Section "Data Output," page 195 (225 pdf), Table 10.54, fifth row, second column: Remove second sentence in table cell,
which was: This is a projection of the same attribute of the referenced ItemDefinition."
(f) in Section 10.3.1 Data Modeling, Sub-Section "Data Output," page 295 (225 pdf), Table 10.54, fifth row, second column: Add the following sentence after the first
sentence in table cell: "It is needed when no itemDefinition is referenced. If an itemDefinition is referenced, then this attribute MUST have the same value as the
isCollection attribute of the referenced itemDefinition. The default value for this attribute is "false"."