Exercise 8: XML introduction

Topic 1 Create an XML document for an online catalogue of cars where each car has the child elements of make, model, year, colour, engine, number_of_doors, transmission_type and accessories. The engine has child elements called number_of_cylinders and fuel_system.

What is XML?

• (Almost) self-describing data

• Robust error-handling

• Internationalized

• Any schema allowed

XML Helps

• Consistent format

• Labels all the information

• Can send just updates

• Merging relatively simple

• Even in merged catalogue, can keep information separate

Why use XML?

• Content re -use

• Automation of processing after creation

• Ultimately viewed by human

• Non-proprietary data format

Different Marketplaces

• Suppliers supply more than one marketplace

• Some are private (one buyer)

• Others are industry (many buyers)

• Some are public (many buyers)

Example of XML Document