Exercise 11: XML Introduction

1. Conduct research on the Internet to find out what tools can be used to parse an XML document and encure the document is well formed and valid.

XML parsers are used to paese an XML document. There are two type of parsers, validating and non-validating.

According to the Ken (2000), the two type of parsers are:

"non-validating: the parser does not check a document against any DTD (Document Type Definition); only checks that the document is well-formed (that it is properly markedup according to XML syntax rules)

validating: in addition to checking well-formedness, the parser verifies that the document conforms to a specific DTD (either internal or external to the XML file being parsed)."

There are several tools can be used to parse an XML document and ensure that the document is well formed and valid.

Xerces
There are several version for Xerces which are written in different language for different platforms.

Apache Xerces C++ is written in C++
Apache Xerces2 Java is written in Java
Apache Xerces Perl is written in Perl

IBM's XML Parser for Java
IBM stated that it is a validating XML parser, written in Java to allow applications to read and write XML data.

MSXML
Microsoft XML Core Services (MSXML) allows Microsoft Development tools to run as native XML-based applications.

2. What are the benefits of adopting a schema standardized for a business sector?

The w3schools.com stated that the benefits of using the schema standardized are in FOUR sectors:

a. XML Schemas Support Data Types
By defining the data formats in the schema, the correctness of data can be checked. Some of the restricted information can be restricted from viewing by others. The conversion of the data become easier. (W3schools)

b. XML Schemas use XML Syntax
As the schema uses XML syntax, it is not necessary to learn a new programming language. By changing the content of the schema and parse it, the schema can be converted into other format such as XSLT and XML DOM easily. (W3schools)

c. XML Schemas Secure Data Communication
With the Schema, the information is standardized in a proper format and can easily be understand. For example: the format of the date, in XML data type, the format of date is "YYYY-MM-DD". (W3schools)

d. XML Schemas are Extensible
Due to the fact that the schemas are written in XML, the schema can be reused. Different schemas can be reference to a docuemnt. (W3schools)

3. SMIL is an application of XML. What is the purpose of this technology? Where does it apply?

SMIL is stand for Synchronized Multimedia Integration Language. It is used for presenting and interacting the synchronize multimedia such as video, audio and pictures.
The SMIL control the timing of the medias, produce different versions of products by controlling the bandwidth and languages. (SOA Definitions)

Reference:
Apache.org (27 March 2009), The Apache Xerces Project, Retrieved 10 April 2009 from http://xerces.apache.org/

Ken S. (29 July 2000), XML Software Guide: XML Parsers, Retrieved 10 April 2009 from http://wdvl.internet.com/Software/XML/parsers.html

SOA Definitions (31 July 2001), SMIL, Retrieved 10 April 2009 from http://searchsoa.techtarget.com/sDefinition/0,,sid26_gci214217,00.html

W3Schools (n.d.), Why Use XML Schemas?, Retrieved 10 April 2009 from http://www.w3schools.com/Schema/schema_why.asp