RE: RFC initiated for Simple Spectral Access protocol

Attached are my comments so far on the version 1.01 SSAP paper. I think most, but not all, describe minor typos.

Randy

SSAP V1.01 Comments/typos

• Section 1.3.4 states that more information on error responses is given in section 7.4. Section 7.4 actually discusses data retrieval errors. Although its referenced in 7.4, the real information is found in section 8.10.
• Section 1.4.1 states "VOTable is preferred if only one format is supported". I would suggest not preferring one data format over another and leaving it to the data providers to decide. For an "archival" SSA service, which is the more likely type of service to offer only one format, FITS may be a better choice.
• Section 2.4.2 mentions that "the full creation type can be more than one of these operations, for example, both projection and filtered...". Does this imply that the dataset creation type metadata value can be a list? Is this true in general (i.e., that metadata can be defined as multiple (comma separated) values)?
• Section 3.1 typo Add an "an" before "explicit parameterized operation".
• Section 4.1.2 typo - recommended parameters are indicated in the tables by "REC", not "REQ" as stated.
• Section 4.1.2, 2nd sentence after table "The spatial resolution is important as it is usually comparable to the diameter of the spectral aperture on the sky...". I don't think this is why spatial resolution is important. Note the wording in the SDM paper (section 4.6.3) "the spatial resolution may be useful to know if it exceeds the aperture size; the default is to assume it is equal to the aperture size."
• Section 4.1.2.2 typo? defines spectral resolving power as dW/W, while the SDM paper section 4.6.3 defines it as W/dW, as does the table in 4.1.2. I assume the text just needs to be corrected.
• Section 4.1.2.10/4.1.2.11 - FLUXCALIB and WAVECALIB are true/false parameters defined as "Specifies whether only flux/wavelength calibrated data is to be found". It's not clear to me from the wording whether a value of "FALSE" means return only uncalibrated data or return both calibrated AND uncalibrated data. Perhaps this can be clarified. There are really 3 logical possibilities, return calibrated, uncalibrated, or both. I assume the default is to return both.
• Section 4.2.6.2/4.2.6.3 shows metadata names in a different font, but some were listed with the same font as the text which makes it confusing (i.e., "Collection", "Creator", and "PublisherDID" ). Also, I believe, the first reference to "CreatorDID" should really be "DatasetID".
• Section 8.10 3rd paragraph add "the" before "senses described below".
• General, The SDM paper states that UTYPE's and UCD's are case insensitive but I didn't see this mentioned in the SSAP paper. There was some confusion about this for the SIAP UCDs. If it's not already mentioned somewhere, perhaps it would help avoid confusion to state this in the SSAP paper as well.