[OSM-newbies] Interior ring with Potlatch?

[Randy]

Mike N. wrote:

>>I had a similar case over here of multiple buildings touching each other.
>>I
>>decided to have them share ways although JOSM's validator complains about
>>it.
>>If anyone has a better practice please share it with me.
>
>   I didn't remember that the validator complains ... you do need to be
>careful to be sure that all common nodes are shared by both buildings.
>Otherwise it's easy to have them cross by a barely visible amount, and the
>validator notes the 'Crossing Ways'.
>

I believe that's precisely the problem, with the local area I found, 
although I haven't gotten back to it yet. The "glue joints" overlap, 
rather than being common ways.

I still contend that even though the renderer will make this look like a 
contiguous area, the underlying data will contain a discontinuity which 
does not reflect reality,and which, for some future purpose, could cause a 
problem. For example, how do I get from point A to point B without leaving 
the area? (Oops, here's the boundary, is it a real boundary or just a 
pseudo boundary?) So, I'll use multipolygons for interior courtyards, etc. 
because, from my personal view, it is the "safer" approach, and is a 
better way to "map reality" rather than map for the renderers.

As always, in OSM, YMMV. (Your mapping may vary.)

-- 
Randy