[LINK] XML is evil

[Marghanita da Cruz]

Craig Sanders wrote:
> On Tue, Nov 18, 2008 at 04:09:54PM +1100, Richard Chirgwin wrote:
> 
>> The problem arises when someone who *doesn't* want to dabble in data
>> formats, like me, finds himself confronted with 80 MB of XML document,
>> and no particular help from the origin of the document to make it
>> accessible to any tool other than where it was created. So it is, I
>> agree with someone earlier, the originators of XML datasets who act like
>> ninnies, by assuming that some "other" tool somewhere out there will
>> take care of users and we can treat the dataset like an infinite sandbox.
> 
> they're not "acting like ninnies". they're using XML as a data transfer
> tool, exactly as it is intended to be.
> 
> that assumption (i.e. that there will be some other tool) is the right
> assumption to make. the ability to make and rely on that assumption is
> part of the reason for XML.
> 
> The XML file itself contains enough meta-data (field-names, attributes,
> etc) to parse it correctly and extract data even without the DTD (which
> is, BTW, referred to in the XML file), and the associated DTD provides
> further information for more sophisticated tools like editors and
> validators..
> 
> craig
> 

This discussion has prompted me to look into XML formats for theatre
production information and ticket sales and came across these:

  xml for hotel bookings.
<http://xml.booking.com/>	

XReservations is the new way forward in how the Travel Industry handles Bookings.
<http://www.xreservations.com/>

XML Sales Interface
<http://www.shubertticketing.com/technology/xml.asp>

though I haven't come across anything for the actual production information.

I am also looking at an online catalog for an exhibition and was looking for
suitable XML schemas for that and came across this - with SGML references
which is an indication of how long we have been grappling with this stuff:

Cooperative Learning, Interaction, and Creation in a Networked Educational
Environment: Organization and Access for Multiple-Cultural Users
<http://www.isoc.org/inet96/proceedings/c3/c3_3.htm>

The reuse and maintenance of accurate information in a real time environment
makes the argument for XML compelling - and there seem to be workshops around
working on various schemas. I was hoping the NLA would have something but it
seems their interest is in  the library catalog entry for the exhibition catalog.

Any pointers on xml standarisation activities in theses two areas welcome

Marghanita
-- 
Marghanita da Cruz
http://www.ramin.com.au
Phone: (+61)0414 869202