Re: Support for "codice fiscale" syntax

[Pierangelo Masarati <ando@sys-net.it>]

Michael Ströder wrote:
> Pierangelo Masarati wrote:
> > I've developed a module that implements support for the syntax of
> > "codice fiscale", the personal identification code used by the Italian
> > government to uniquely identify citizen.
>
> Well, we currently get such a number in Germany too.
>
> >  I think it might be of general
> > use, although possibly limited to Italian users, so I'd like to give it
> > a somewhat official and unbiased OID, rather than one under my arc or
> > SysNet's.  Would it qualify as general enough for OpenLDAP's OID arc, at
> > least while experimental?
>
> Well, when assigning OIDs there are two options:
>
> 1. the pragmatic approach: Use any OID arc you want since no-one ever
> cares. This seems to be the most common approach and works within a
> reasonable time-frame. Even OID arcs (enterprise IDs) looking very
> "official" seem to be assigned with this approach.
>
> 2. the "official" approach: Try to convince an official numbering
> authority to do the job. In your case that would the relevant Italian
> government agency or the central Italian bank. Be prepared for either
> being totally ignored or involved into really bizarre discussions. Also
> be prepared to wait at least two years for it. (Do you know the movie
> "Brazil"?)
>
> I don't see why an OpenLDAP OID should look somewhat "more official"
> than any other OID arc. Just my two EUR cent. ;-)

Let's say more "neutral".  I'm considering using a temporary OID from 
the experimental arc.  For the rest, who knows?

> > I believe the need for a dedicated syntax (as
> > opposed to IA5string, printableString or so) is that its definition,
> > although flawed, needs to conform to quite a few restrictions, and a
> > syntax that allows to detect trivial errors and single out impossible
> > values would be definitely helpful.
>
> Is there kind of a checksum digit?

Yes, but the whole design is flawed (in fact, the government seems to be 
considering the opportunity of changing it to something more reliable; I 
expect significant bureaucratic simplifications from this ;)

> > An OID arc would be best, because
> > the kit consists in:
> >
> > - a syntax
> > - an equality matching rule (cfMatch)
> > - an attribute spec (cf)
> > - an auxiliary objectClass spec (cfObject)
>
> Why do you need a matching rule?

Well, you're probably right: given the syntax specification, after 
validation a simple octet string match suffices.

> Is there a required normalization step
> like stripping white spaces before comparing it? (Frankly I'm not eager
> diving into the specification of this number though.)

Nobody would :)

> I could imagine a
> more general matching rule useful which strips spaces and then conducts
> numericStringMatch, caseIgnoreIA5Match etc.
>
> Also I'd prefer a naming prefix slightly more verbose than 'cf' and
> reflecting the use for Italy. Maybe something like 'itcodefisc' or similar?

Thanks for the suggestions.  I'll take them into account.

p.


Ing. Pierangelo Masarati
OpenLDAP Core Team

SysNet s.r.l.
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