Re: So let me get this straight.... (XML in RPG)

Hi James,

<snip>
Then again, if you're parsing it with something less than a full XML
parser, you're probably going to be parsing a small, highly predictable,
family of XML data streams, rather than actually parsing XML as XML.

At least, that's what I've done, where XML data streams been shoved down
my throat with no other meaningful alternative offered.
</snip>

Indeed, and I have absolutely no problem with writing custom parsers to parse custom markup. I guess my problem is more the constant use of the word 'XML'. :-)

XML is a very well defined sub-set of SGML (as defined here: http://www.w3.org/XML/) yet the word (TLA) is thrown about so much that it is synonymous with 'my custom markup'. This is absurd and causes so much confusion. I work with XML almost every working day, on various systems, and I have worked with many partners over the years who profess to interface with XML only to find a standard XML 1.0 parser chokes on it because whatever it is, it is definitely NOT XML. :-)

Funnily, most of the major culprits are software vendors. I once got a set of XDR schemas from a vendor for validating our XML against their interface and I told them I wanted XSD schemas because XDR schemas were not even supported by Microsoft (this was in 2003) and a W3C compliant validating parser wouldn't use them. You know what they did? they renamed the extension on the files and sent them back to me! I mean, the guys really didn't know what they were doing. I had to convert them myself and get the vendor to sign off on MY schemas to validate against THEIR interface. lol!!!

Got to laugh, and I know you know XML, and I'm not speaking to you specifically on this subject - just had to rant a little.

Cheers

Larry Ducie

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