What the Hell is XML? – A Listing Aside

XML (Extensible Markup Language) is the Eurodollar of internet growth. Each XML and the Euro convey order to chaos; each provide plain, large–ranging
  advantages; each are poised, in 2002, to alter the best way we do issues. Frankly,
  each scare the crap out of individuals.

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For internet builders, 2002 is a time to beat fears and take their first palms–on
  strategy to XML. It’s time to look at XML and understand the sensible advantages
  that it might present to internet tasks at present.

The bankers can fend for themselves.

XML, HTML & Databases#section2

If you happen to want an excellent analogy to explain XML to different folks, don’t point out HTML.  Though XML appears lots like HTML, creating an excellent XML file is extra like designing a database than creating an online web page.

Databases and XML paperwork are each used
  as a way to prepare knowledge. Because of this, they share numerous similarities.

A database desk design for a desk containing information tales would
  look one thing like this:

Desk Title:

Information

Desk Columns:

 

• Headline
• Class
• Writer
• Date
• Summary
• Physique
• Standing

     

A primary XML doc containing the identical info would possibly seem like this:

<?xml model="1.0"?>


<Headline></Headline>


<Physique>Pending</Physique>

Along with these similarities, each databases and XML symbolize an enormous step ahead within the capacity to publish and handle internet content material.

XML in all places#section3

At any scale above that of the small, private web site, database–pushed web sites are indisputably higher at managing, updating, and sustaining content material than HTML–solely websites. What everybody will uncover in 2002 in that XML–pushed database websites will show to be indisputably higher than database–pushed websites. XML goes to be in all places.

And as an online developer, you’re going to like it.

XML is poised to eradicate extra complications than a bottle of Ibuprofen, enhance
  productiveness greater than cans of Crimson Bull,  and improve profitability greater than
  we’ll need to our purchasers to learn about.

How? Two phrases: Content material administration.

Content material administration & migration#section4

Earlier than tasks are initiated by a shopper, an internet site normally reaches a stage
  of obsolescence, immediacy, or embarrassment. Net tasks are large tasks
  with quick time strains. It’s not shocking, then, that one of many largest elements
  influencing the profitability and success of internet tasks is the flexibility to
  successfully handle content material.

Separation of favor, programming, and content material#section5

The flexibility to retailer a web site’s content material, programming, and design individually and
  combine them collectively transparently, on demand, is the artwork of our craft. Every second
  eliminating rework and duplication is a greenback in our pocket. It’s time spent
  including new options to a web site relatively than rewriting, transforming, and “looking
  and changing.”

We’ve solved a lot of the issue with databases, templates, fashion sheets and
  server–facet consists of. A lot that is still, XML can tackle. It’s the very best software for managing content material – the content material itself, not the best way textual content seems on display.
  XML is used to construction, retailer and ship info in a platform–impartial,
  object–oriented, plain textual content format.

Guerilla techniques#section6

The facility of XML is unleashed when its positioned within the palms of content material suppliers.
  Nonetheless, since copywriters and purchasers are accustomed to writing in platform–impartial, object–oriented, plain textual content codecs, it means serving to them do it unknowingly. Guerilla content material administration techniques, reminiscent of MS-Phrase–to–XML migration, might be wildly profitable.

The fundamental mannequin for XML migration is to start out in a textual content editor, reminiscent of MS Phrase ,
  that may be transformed on to XML, or by way of RTF, utilizing third celebration instruments.
  After conversion to XML, the paperwork can be utilized by an XML–conscious server, or
  transformed to HTML utilizing one other third-party software.

Profitable migration requires offering content material creators with a Microsoft
  Phrase template and a set of primary directions previous to Net growth. The
  template should embrace customized fashion tags based mostly on the group of the
  pending web site.

When utilizing the template, content material builders have to keep away from
  utilizing MS Phrase formatting choices that aren’t outlined inside the customized fashion
  tags. If customized tags are inadequate, new tags should be added that mirror
  the kind of content material being addressed.

Whereas the method appears cumbersome, with sufficient apply, it takes considerably
  much less time to replace web site content material than utilizing processes with out XML – significantly when you harness the ability of XML validation.

Web sites both evolve or undergo the gradual, painful demise of neglect. New content material
  must be added. Previous content material must be eliminated. Lacking content material must
  be discovered. Shoppers are pissed off by their incapability to take care of and handle their
internet content material. Net builders are pissed off by the aftermath. XML can assist.

XML–based mostly paperwork make it straightforward to seek out outdated and
  lacking content material at a look. That is achieved by utilizing XML Information Kind Definitions
  (DTDs) to determine the timeliness of knowledge and decide what info
  “nuggets” should be current inside the content material.

Like databases, XML paperwork can help you validate info, earlier than you
  use it, to ensure the content material is well timed, acceptable, and full. Since
  we’re used to speaking about validation because it pertains to databases, let’s take
  a extra detailed have a look at the database desk we created to carry information tales.
  In actuality, a database desk should embrace definitions for every column:

 

  

 

 

  

Information Desk:
Columns	Kind	Required?	Notes
Headline	varchar	Sure	Max of fifty characters
Writer	varchar	no
Class	Varchar	Sure	Chosen from drop-down record
Date	date/time	Sure	Date added to desk
Summary	varchar	Sure	250 character intro.
Physique	textual content	Sure	Permits textual content formatting in discipline
Standing	varchar	Sure	pending – No distribution       public – Public distribution       non-public – Inner distribution

By validating fields, the info desk ensures that every information story comprises
  all the required info. So, with the correct integration and an online–based mostly
  interface, the info desk might be an environment friendly software for publishing information on the
  internet.

The XML doc with easy DTD validation used for a similar info would possibly
  seem like this:

 

  

<?xml model=“1.0”?> <!DOCTYPE Information[ ]> <Headline></Headline> <Physique>Pending</Physique>

The XML doc makes important contributions to internet publishing when in comparison with the database alone. XML permits knowledge to be validated based mostly on the embedded DTDs, XML tags and attributes. Which means that acceptable content material might be extracted immediately from the XML doc based mostly on choice standards with out requiring an interim database, 
  with out requiring a database question,  and with out being separated from the supply
  doc.

Utilizing DTD, XML paperwork all of the sudden develop into self–conscious.

XML finds advocates on either side of the continued “content material” versus
  “fashion” debate.

XSL (the eXtensible Stylesheet Language), the fashion sheet language of XML, packs
  a wallop. It’s way more sturdy than Cascading Fashion Sheets (CSS). As an alternative
  of utilizing guidelines (as CSS does) to format content material, XSL makes use of (.xsl) templates to explain
  find out how to remodel XML into different forms of paperwork. While you implement an XML–based mostly web site, XML doesn’t exchange HTML. If it sounds a bit complicated, right here’s why. While you take care of XSL recordsdata, all isn’t because it seems:

1. The .XSL file embeds HTML with XML tags and logic that outline how info
      must be displayed at run time.
2. At run–time, the .XML file is displayed within the internet browser on the fly.
3. Though HTML formatting included within the .XSL file is utilized, it gained’t
      seem within the supply for the .XML doc being displayed within the browser.
    
4. The looks in HTML relies on the mixture of XML tags and logic
      inside the .XSL file.
5. As a result of the .XSL file can remodel XML within the browser, the doc that
      seems within the browser might solely be a subset of the content material within the precise
      XML file.

The flexibility to remodel the XML conditionally in an online browser signifies that content material
  might be centralized. Elements of the doc are displayed or ignored on an as–wanted   foundation.

Net builders have been telling others that they’re ready to dabble in
  XML till it turns into broadly accessible. The reality is, it’s been broadly accessible for months:

• Web Explorer 5 comprises an XML engine that totally helps XML 1.0,
  as outlined by the World Vast Net Consortium (W3C). It is a large enchancment
        over the engine in IE4.

• Netscape 6.0/Mozilla consists of full XML help.

• Flash 5 ActionScript helps XML–based mostly knowledge switch to and from a server.

• Director has supplied an XML Parser Xtra since Director 7.0 that enables
        Shockwave films to learn, parse, and make use of the contents of XML paperwork.

  (Ed.Notice: Director’s considerably buggy XML parser has postpone many builders. Reader Hussein Boon recommends Andy White’s person–extensible Lingo scripts as an alternative. Boon additionally recommends a DOM–Lingo binding that binds Director’s Lingo scripting language to the W3C DOM Stage 2.)

• IIS servers provide XML integration
     by way of the Microsoft XML Parser. Model 4 of the parser helps XML 1.0.

• SQL Server 2000 supplies built-in XML help. It’s the primary launch
        to take action.

• Microsoft’s
        XML expertise preview runs below any SQL Server launch. Though
        the output is barely totally different in a couple of instances, it’s a strong XML atmosphere
        for the pre–SQL Server 2000 crowd.

• Model 2 of the Apache
        Cocoon XML, a robust framework for XML internet publishing, been launched.
      

• Expat,
        an XML 1.0 parser can be utilized in cooperation with the XML
        parser operate for PHP. This toolkit enables you to parse, however not validate,
        XML paperwork.

• XML–RPC
     is a platform–impartial protocol for executing packages remotely, “designed to be so simple as attainable, whereas permitting advanced knowledge constructions to be transmitted, processed and returned.”

This implies we’ve all run out of excuses for pushing aside XML. Right this moment, the advantages   of growing internet tasks in XML aren’t merely possible. They’re achievable.