xml what is it

logic_earth · 03-25-2004, 08:28 PM

I want to know what is excatly what it is and what i would use it for

spkmldotcom · 03-25-2004, 10:42 PM

Hmmm, I'm not really sure how to answer your question because I don't actually use it much but You can use XML to store coded data. You could even use php or asp.net to generate xml log files that are then retrieved. I'm not sure how you'd do that or choose that over using a database but I've used xml to create playlists for media players. an ASX file, which is used by Windows media player, is an xml file structure. AIML, Artificial intelligence markup language, is an example of an xml file as well. SALT uses an xml structure also. So what can you do with XML? Lots. Do I know how to code an XML parser though? No.

danielmichel · 03-28-2004, 09:55 PM

XML stands for extensible markup language. it is a simplified SGML. To put it simple it works sort of like css. u can create ur own document type definitions with it that are called entities. in that document type u can create ur own tag something like <.bighshit> that would allow u to take a shortcut instead of using 5 different HTML tags to create text that shows up bold, underlined, italic, blue, or whatever. I'm gonna use <bighshit> in my doc type definition and <.bighshit> is always gonna be a shortcut for me instead of using all them tags. This was a really broad explanation and i hope explaining it that way helped a little. check out http://www.xml.com/pub/a/98/10/guide1.htmlfor more info.

Nick · 04-05-2004, 11:24 PM

* correction to above link - http://www.xml.com/pub/a/98/10/guide1.html *

Quote:

it works sort of like css

must admit i don't understand XML to it's fullest pottential. I've always used XML for storing data in a file based database then used PHP to parse it...anyway...

Some more useful links for you:

XML in 10 Points - http://www.w3.org/XML/1999/XML-in-10-points
XML Activity Sheet - http://www.w3.org/XML/

and of course our friend google http://www.google.co.uk/search?sourc...what+is+xml%22

Amit · 04-15-2004, 07:23 PM

Some Definitions.

XML is a subset of SGML, like HTML. You can use it in many different ways & forms, it all depends on your creative genius. :D

You can use it like a storage medium, a database that stores data or you can use it to make your Website, doing away with HTML. I mean that whoever says that you need to use HTML to make a webpage is a fool. You can make a webpage in XML too & style it with CSS. I wouldn't suggest using XSL b'coz XSL uses HTML for styling.

So, there are two types of stylesheets that can be used with XML, CSS & XSL.

If you want to start out in XML, a good free online resource is W3Schools.

Contention · 11-28-2004, 12:17 PM

Wonder if logic is an XML expert by now

danielmichel · 02-15-2006, 11:18 PM

As we all should know by now, I am the webmaster here, but really only handle the GFX end of our designs.
Before a few months back I would really only get into still GFX, but with changing times I?ve had to get hip with it and learn flash.
Flash is unfortunately for me, an art that carries a few coding languages with it that you must learn in order to really perfect your flash "GURUNESS"
XML was one of those languages.

Nick · 03-26-2006, 07:40 AM

and within a "flash" your guru status is stripped by the entrance of Cota lol.

Keep it up adobe_fan

Cota · 03-26-2006, 12:54 PM

You guys want the truth on XML...simply put..XML doesnt do anything at all. Its not like CSS, but XSL would be more like CSS. XML became popluar because it unified data transfers between platforms and languages. With XML, a windows based program can talk to a unix based program, assuming they can both parse XML...

@adobe_fan - You have to learn XML or any other language to use Flash. I'm not a big fan of XML/Flash combo. Flash takes too long to parse XML..I'd rather load data from a PHP or ASP script and use Style Sheets to format it. With Flash Remoting, you can use C#, Java, etc and do some hardcore stuff.

textbooksword · 03-26-2006, 04:30 PM

What does it mean when people say XML can be used for storage?

Cota · 03-26-2006, 05:26 PM

The same way you would use a Text file...only with XML tags in it.

Michael · 03-26-2006, 08:27 PM

Another thing about XML is that it allows multiple languages to speak to each other. A way to look at this is with webservices, which are built in just about any language, and whose methods can be utilized from any language that allows you to send and recieve xml data over http.

Matt · 03-30-2006, 05:13 PM

Props to Cota... He knows his stuff

Just a note about why XML is used as storage...
Let's say you have a database of information for a website. You may have tables of users with all of their information, or tables with forum threads and replies. This data is represented well using XML.

For example...

Code:

<useraccounts><user><firstname>Bobo</firstname>
<lastname>Clown</firstname></user>
<user><firstname>Felix</firstname>
<lastname>Cat</firstname>
</user></useraccounts>

It is XML's ability to define and represent data that makes it a descent way to store data. Instead of being stored in some binary file specific to one type of database server, it can be stored in a standard text file readable by any number of servers. Flat file databases, or databases based on text files, have very poor performance compared to databases such as MSSQL or mysql.
If I want to retrieve XML data, I usually use a database server like MSSQL. MSSQL and other database servers allow you to return the result of a query AS XML instead of a record object. This can be very handy when creating web services and apps, because you get the XML output with the performance of a traditional database server.

My two cents anyway...
Actually two cents may be a bit pricey...

Michael · 03-30-2006, 05:30 PM

Going along with what Matt said, XML allows you to abstract how the data is stored. You can make a simple application that uses XML as it's way of reading information in, that XML file could easily be hard-coded, or it can be generated from a database or server side language.

Cota · 03-30-2006, 08:43 PM

Still not a big fan of XML...

03-31-2006, 10:19 PM

Lol they use XML for vbulletin styles. Thats about all I know abut it. *shrug*

danielmichel · 03-31-2006, 11:43 PM

They do dont they.....
They do.
They work wonders with it. The products and Plugins. I love it.

Toucan42 · 04-18-2006, 09:47 PM

I use XML every day and I love it - repeat: LOVE IT.

XML allows me to define a human readable and understandable hierarchical model of anything whatsoever.

I work with a fair number of companies in different market verticals and XML is just about the best way to transfer data. Essentially one partner accepts another partners document schema and builds a translation layer. Sometimes multiple partners can all agree on a standard XML structure and everyone is happy.

XML allows me to further seperate the data layer from the presentation layer.

SQL Server allows me to query data and return it as an XML document ready to go, meaning I needn't build a function to create XML out of recordset data. Heck, SQL Server even allows me to insert data across multiple tables direct from an XML document which I can validate with an XSD.

XSL allows me to blend CSS and control flow logic.

XML allows me to have disparate systems speak to one another.

The one drawback to XML is weight - it CAN get heavy. But if you are working in encapsulated code and well thought out design principles then XML is great. In fact if you like slick interface design then look into AJAX - the X in AJAX is also XML.

danielmichel · 04-25-2006, 11:16 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Cota

Still not a big fan of XML...

Why is that?

Cota · 04-25-2006, 02:33 PM

Within Flash, takes longer to parse and pain in the ass to navigate. Outside of Flash, I have no issues with XML.

03-25-2004, 08:28 PM	#1 (permalink)
logic_earth Junior Member Newb Join Date: Mar 2004 Posts: 9	xml what is it I want to know what is excatly what it is and what i would use it for __________________ Logic Earth - Broken Mind of the World.

03-25-2004, 10:42 PM	#2 (permalink)
spkmldotcom Junior Member Casual Browser Join Date: Mar 2004 Age: 36 Posts: 23	Xml Hmmm, I'm not really sure how to answer your question because I don't actually use it much but You can use XML to store coded data. You could even use php or asp.net to generate xml log files that are then retrieved. I'm not sure how you'd do that or choose that over using a database but I've used xml to create playlists for media players. an ASX file, which is used by Windows media player, is an xml file structure. AIML, Artificial intelligence markup language, is an example of an xml file as well. SALT uses an xml structure also. So what can you do with XML? Lots. Do I know how to code an XML parser though? No.

03-28-2004, 09:55 PM	#3 (permalink)
danielmichel Administrator Disciple Join Date: Feb 2003 Age: 29 Posts: 728 Images: 16	XML stands for extensible markup language. it is a simplified SGML. To put it simple it works sort of like css. u can create ur own document type definitions with it that are called entities. in that document type u can create ur own tag something like <.bighshit> that would allow u to take a shortcut instead of using 5 different HTML tags to create text that shows up bold, underlined, italic, blue, or whatever. I'm gonna use <bighshit> in my doc type definition and <.bighshit> is always gonna be a shortcut for me instead of using all them tags. This was a really broad explanation and i hope explaining it that way helped a little. check out http://www.xml.com/pub/a/98/10/guide1.htmlfor more info. __________________ To view links or images in signatures your post count must be 10 or greater. You currently have 0 posts. - A list of resources for 3D Developers To view links or images in signatures your post count must be 10 or greater. You currently have 0 posts. - A list of resources for design in motion with Adobe After Effects To view links or images in signatures your post count must be 10 or greater. You currently have 0 posts. - Usefully resources for freelance web developers To view links or images in signatures your post count must be 10 or greater. You currently have 0 posts. - Tips and discussion about search engine optimization To view links or images in signatures your post count must be 10 or greater. You currently have 0 posts. - Tutorials submitted by ny-dev members

04-15-2004, 07:23 PM	#5 (permalink)
Amit Junior Member Casual Browser Join Date: Mar 2003 Age: 26 Posts: 23	Some Definitions. XML is a subset of SGML, like HTML. You can use it in many different ways & forms, it all depends on your creative genius. :D You can use it like a storage medium, a database that stores data or you can use it to make your Website, doing away with HTML. I mean that whoever says that you need to use HTML to make a webpage is a fool. You can make a webpage in XML too & style it with CSS. I wouldn't suggest using XSL b'coz XSL uses HTML for styling. So, there are two types of stylesheets that can be used with XML, CSS & XSL. If you want to start out in XML, a good free online resource is W3Schools. __________________ Amit To view links or images in signatures your post count must be 10 or greater. You currently have 0 posts. ~~ To view links or images in signatures your post count must be 10 or greater. You currently have 0 posts. To view links or images in signatures your post count must be 10 or greater. You currently have 0 posts.

11-28-2004, 12:17 PM	#6 (permalink)
Contention Moderator Aficionado Join Date: Mar 2003 Age: 31 Posts: 147	Re: xml what is it Wonder if logic is an XML expert by now

02-15-2006, 11:18 PM	#7 (permalink)
danielmichel Administrator Disciple Join Date: Feb 2003 Age: 29 Posts: 728 Images: 16	Re: xml what is it As we all should know by now, I am the webmaster here, but really only handle the GFX end of our designs. Before a few months back I would really only get into still GFX, but with changing times I?ve had to get hip with it and learn flash. Flash is unfortunately for me, an art that carries a few coding languages with it that you must learn in order to really perfect your flash "GURUNESS" XML was one of those languages. __________________ To view links or images in signatures your post count must be 10 or greater. You currently have 0 posts. - A list of resources for 3D Developers To view links or images in signatures your post count must be 10 or greater. You currently have 0 posts. - A list of resources for design in motion with Adobe After Effects To view links or images in signatures your post count must be 10 or greater. You currently have 0 posts. - Usefully resources for freelance web developers To view links or images in signatures your post count must be 10 or greater. You currently have 0 posts. - Tips and discussion about search engine optimization To view links or images in signatures your post count must be 10 or greater. You currently have 0 posts. - Tutorials submitted by ny-dev members

03-26-2006, 07:40 AM	#8 (permalink)
Nick PHP Guru Casual Browser Join Date: Mar 2003 Age: 27 Posts: 19	Re: xml what is it and within a "flash" your guru status is stripped by the entrance of Cota lol. Keep it up adobe_fan __________________ What You See Is (Not Always) What You Get

03-26-2006, 12:54 PM	#9 (permalink)
Cota Senior Member Fanatic Join Date: Mar 2006 Age: 33 Posts: 414	Re: xml what is it You guys want the truth on XML...simply put..XML doesnt do anything at all. Its not like CSS, but XSL would be more like CSS. XML became popluar because it unified data transfers between platforms and languages. With XML, a windows based program can talk to a unix based program, assuming they can both parse XML... @adobe_fan - You have to learn XML or any other language to use Flash. I'm not a big fan of XML/Flash combo. Flash takes too long to parse XML..I'd rather load data from a PHP or ASP script and use Style Sheets to format it. With Flash Remoting, you can use C#, Java, etc and do some hardcore stuff.

03-26-2006, 04:30 PM	#10 (permalink)
textbooksword Member Enthusiast Join Date: Nov 2004 Posts: 97	Re: xml what is it What does it mean when people say XML can be used for storage?

03-26-2006, 05:26 PM	#11 (permalink)
Cota Senior Member Fanatic Join Date: Mar 2006 Age: 33 Posts: 414	Re: xml what is it The same way you would use a Text file...only with XML tags in it.

03-26-2006, 08:27 PM	#12 (permalink)
Michael Senior Member Fanatic Join Date: Mar 2006 Age: 24 Posts: 253	Re: xml what is it Another thing about XML is that it allows multiple languages to speak to each other. A way to look at this is with webservices, which are built in just about any language, and whose methods can be utilized from any language that allows you to send and recieve xml data over http. __________________ Actionscript Developer :P ...Dope... To view links or images in signatures your post count must be 10 or greater. You currently have 0 posts. To view links or images in signatures your post count must be 10 or greater. You currently have 0 posts. <--- yeah I'm a nooob, so what

03-30-2006, 05:13 PM	#13 (permalink)
Matt Junior Member Newb Join Date: Mar 2006 Age: 34 Posts: 6	Re: xml what is it Props to Cota... He knows his stuff Just a note about why XML is used as storage... Let's say you have a database of information for a website. You may have tables of users with all of their information, or tables with forum threads and replies. This data is represented well using XML. For example... Code: <useraccounts> <user> <firstname>Bobo</firstname> <lastname>Clown</firstname> </user> <user> <firstname>Felix</firstname> <lastname>Cat</firstname> </user> </useraccounts> It is XML's ability to define and represent data that makes it a descent way to store data. Instead of being stored in some binary file specific to one type of database server, it can be stored in a standard text file readable by any number of servers. Flat file databases, or databases based on text files, have very poor performance compared to databases such as MSSQL or mysql. If I want to retrieve XML data, I usually use a database server like MSSQL. MSSQL and other database servers allow you to return the result of a query AS XML instead of a record object. This can be very handy when creating web services and apps, because you get the XML output with the performance of a traditional database server. My two cents anyway... Actually two cents may be a bit pricey... __________________ Don't blame math it didn't do anything to you! To view links or images in signatures your post count must be 10 or greater. You currently have 0 posts. Last edited by danielmichel; 04-25-2006 at 11:15 AM.

03-30-2006, 05:30 PM	#14 (permalink)
Michael Senior Member Fanatic Join Date: Mar 2006 Age: 24 Posts: 253	Re: xml what is it Going along with what Matt said, XML allows you to abstract how the data is stored. You can make a simple application that uses XML as it's way of reading information in, that XML file could easily be hard-coded, or it can be generated from a database or server side language. __________________ Actionscript Developer :P ...Dope... To view links or images in signatures your post count must be 10 or greater. You currently have 0 posts. To view links or images in signatures your post count must be 10 or greater. You currently have 0 posts. <--- yeah I'm a nooob, so what

03-30-2006, 08:43 PM	#15 (permalink)
Cota Senior Member Fanatic Join Date: Mar 2006 Age: 33 Posts: 414	Re: xml what is it Still not a big fan of XML...

03-31-2006, 10:19 PM	#16 (permalink)
Loathor_Healer Guest Posts: n/a	Re: xml what is it Lol they use XML for vbulletin styles. Thats about all I know abut it. shrug

Currently Active Users Viewing This Thread: 1 (0 members and 1 guests)

03-31-2006, 11:43 PM	#17 (permalink)
danielmichel Administrator Disciple Join Date: Feb 2003 Age: 29 Posts: 728 Images: 16	Re: xml what is it They do dont they..... They do. They work wonders with it. The products and Plugins. I love it. __________________ To view links or images in signatures your post count must be 10 or greater. You currently have 0 posts. - A list of resources for 3D Developers To view links or images in signatures your post count must be 10 or greater. You currently have 0 posts. - A list of resources for design in motion with Adobe After Effects To view links or images in signatures your post count must be 10 or greater. You currently have 0 posts. - Usefully resources for freelance web developers To view links or images in signatures your post count must be 10 or greater. You currently have 0 posts. - Tips and discussion about search engine optimization To view links or images in signatures your post count must be 10 or greater. You currently have 0 posts. - Tutorials submitted by ny-dev members

04-18-2006, 09:47 PM	#18 (permalink)
Toucan42 Junior Member Casual Browser Join Date: Apr 2006 Age: 39 Posts: 23	I use XML every day and I love it - repeat: LOVE IT. XML allows me to define a human readable and understandable hierarchical model of anything whatsoever. I work with a fair number of companies in different market verticals and XML is just about the best way to transfer data. Essentially one partner accepts another partners document schema and builds a translation layer. Sometimes multiple partners can all agree on a standard XML structure and everyone is happy. XML allows me to further seperate the data layer from the presentation layer. SQL Server allows me to query data and return it as an XML document ready to go, meaning I needn't build a function to create XML out of recordset data. Heck, SQL Server even allows me to insert data across multiple tables direct from an XML document which I can validate with an XSD. XSL allows me to blend CSS and control flow logic. XML allows me to have disparate systems speak to one another. The one drawback to XML is weight - it CAN get heavy. But if you are working in encapsulated code and well thought out design principles then XML is great. In fact if you like slick interface design then look into AJAX - the X in AJAX is also XML.

04-25-2006, 02:33 PM	#20 (permalink)
Cota Senior Member Fanatic Join Date: Mar 2006 Age: 33 Posts: 414	Within Flash, takes longer to parse and pain in the ass to navigate. Outside of Flash, I have no issues with XML.