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PS In terms of numbering systems, lines, paragraphs etc.,. I think we need a few recommended models, but literature is just too diverse to use the same system of numbering for every possible work (what a about musical scores for instance?)
Element IDs presume nothing. Sequential numbering from biggest divisions through to smallest useful structure, which will be often the paragraph, but not always.
As it a unique sequential reference so long as you can get there unambiguously and refer to it usefully that is all that matters.
Take the Communist Manifesto that has numerous prefaces, but consistent enough text (bearing in mind different translations/editions).
German.Preface.1872.23 (I made the date up) consists of just two IDs a division one "German.Preface.1872" and a paragraph.
While the text itself has since publication used Chapter divisions, Subchapter divisions within which paragraphs reside, and if memory serves correct numbered lists.
Treating the list as paragraph is one option, or as another object hence Chapter.2.Section.3. list.1. item.3 works.
Same with illustrations, examples, quotes and other parts which may present problems being classified as paragraphs. Plates, may be placed in the text in a digital edition, but in the original it belonged within its own section. Hence listing them as Plate.3 makes sense.
Horses for courses.
What would be nice is mandating early that important structural divisions should be sequentially numbered, and perhaps a number of ideal examples.
In the end no matter how many examples are made, there will be some literature, through former usage or particularities of its composition may engender its own form.
The convention I would like to see implemented is inferred subdivisions using a slash, with IDS using the dot convention (allowing joined reference points as used above).
The last convention would be the use of the emdash to indicate a continuance from one place to the next Act.II.Scene.iii.45/3 -- 48/6.
Implied positioning means the subdivisions within the lowest number structure.
Paragraph.23/3 means the third sentence (the sentence marked or implied being the second possible structure of a paragraph) While 23/3/4, is the fourth word in that sentence.
Shakespeare lines have only words, etc.
We need to have normal commercial fiction using IDs for paragraph numbers, the form as long as it is consistent within the work, does not really have to follow any particular scheme (readability is important).
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