RE: Creation of XML documents

Wester, JJ (j.j.wester@kpn-telecom.nl)
Fri, 13 Nov 1998 14:23:41 +0100

I am involved in a similar project: we want to replace the current
inter-application communication techniques (RPC's, batch files etc) by XML
document exchanges. This because XML makes the interfaces more flexible.
We need methods and tools for the programmers who have to adapt old
applications, or build new applications that communicate through XML to
other applications.
The problem is that these programmers are used to RPC's etc. If they have to
use DOM, that would probably mean a lot of education and a lot of changes in
current applications. Also a lot of programs are written in COBOL, which
makes it more difficult to use DOM I think.

The question is: what methods and tools can you offer these programmers?
What is feasible?
DOM? Which implies that the programmer constructs and sends an XML document
instead of calling a remote procedure.
DCE IDL? The programmer uses RPC's (as he does now), which are translated by
underlying middleware to XML documents?
But is this a practical solution?
What about using UML for your data definitions and then create stubs?

Any ideas?

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Johan Wester Tel. +31 50 585 16 01
KPN Telecom Fax. +31 50 585 22 40
P.O. Box 958 j.j.wester@kpn-telecom.nl
9700 AZ Groningen

> -----Original Message-----
> From: Kurt Helenelund [SMTP:kurt@simberg.com]
> Sent: donderdag 5 november 1998 14:03
> To: xml-dev@ic.ac.uk
> Subject: Creation of XML documents
>
> I am working on a project where we will use XML to exchange information
> between
> applications in different government agenices. We want to implement both
> on-line access
> between applications and asynchronous store & forward type of
> mechanisms.
>
> I understand that there are 'lots' of good XML parsers (we have tried
> some) out there and that SAX and DOM are
> the prefered ways for applications to 'read' XML structures. I would
> like to ask if there's anyone
> that have the opposite problem i.e. for applications to create XML
> documents on-the-fly. Of course
> the developer could 'hand code' the XML structures which is error prone
> and booring . I am looking
> for something (API, lib) so that we could avoid this.
>
> I would like to have a 'library' to which the application developer
> could say 'using this DTD please
> instantiate a XML document and help me to fill it in'.
>
> Any solutions?
>
>
> --
> _______________________________________________________________________
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