02
Sat, Nov
2 New Articles

Mapping Your Data to XML the Easy Way

Web Languages
Typography
  • Smaller Small Medium Big Bigger
  • Default Helvetica Segoe Georgia Times

We IT folks are never satisfied! We always want more. If we can’t get more, we will attempt to make more out of what we have. This is what makes our industry so great (or horribly complicated and impossible to follow, depending on your attitude). We keep making things better, faster, and more universal. Java is the poster child for the IT way of thinking. Java has become the universal language of programming because of its Write Once, Run Anywhere (WORA) capabilities. Concerns for its speed are being answered everyday in the form of new releases and performance tips. But we want more.

XML to the Rescue

As Java applications began to move data around, it was realized that data representation as portable as the Java language itself was required. Extensible Markup Language (XML) was developed out of need for something that could truly represent data as opposed to simply formatting and displaying data as HTML accomplishes so well. Now, XML is quickly becoming the universal tool for mapping data between databases. It is more than a markup language, as Mark Johnson states in his article “XML for the absolute beginner” (www.javaworld.com/javaworld/ jw-04-1999/jw-04-xml_p.html), “XML is a metalanguage—a language used to define new markup languages. With XML, you can create a language crafted specifically for your application or domain.” He further states that with XML, you now have “a powerful tool for data representation, storage, modeling, and interoperation.” But we want more.

Did You Check Out the Form on That XML?

A well-formed XML document means that it follows XML standards. What does that mean? Well, compare it to an RPG compiler. A compiler makes sure that the RPG code is syntactically correct: all variables are defined, IF statements have associated ENDIF statements, etc. An XML parser is sort of the compiler for XML. Many vendors offer parsers as free downloads, and they are necessary (unless you want to write your own) to determine if all the tags makes sense and are nested correctly. Well, as some of you may be aware, a program does not necessarily perform properly simply because it is compiled. (A shock to many, I’m sure.) The same holds true for XML. A well-formed document may still contain data that doesn’t match its document type definition (DTD). For an XML


document to be valid, it must be well-formed and contain data that matches the DTD. Mark Johnson says that “The DTD defines the [XML] document type. It accounts for the Extensible in XML. The DTD is how you actually define a new markup language—what I often call a dialect of XML. DTDs currently are being written for an enormous number of different problem domains, and each DTD defines a new markup language.” So, if you create a DTD, or use a standard DTD such as the electronic data interchange standard XML/EDI, along with one of the many parsers available, much of the programming is done for you with regard to extracting data from an XML document. But we want more.

XML and Your Data: Bridge the Gap

IBM’s alphaWorks has developed a tool called XML Lightweight Extractor (XLE) that allows you to create XML documents from your data source without writing detailed access queries to first extract the data before employing other methods to convert the query results into XML. XLE allows you to interpret a given DTD and map it to tables, rows, and columns of your data source. With that, you are then able to extract a well-formed and valid XML document based directly on your data source. The following is a list of features:

• XLE currently supports Java Database Connectivity (JDBC) compliant data sources.

• Given a DTD and a set of tables accessible through JDBC, you can interpret the DTD file to create a mapping file called a DTDSA file.

• When a particular XML document is requested, the user specifies the DTDSA file and zero or more runtime parameters, and XLE will construct the appropriate XML document from the underlying data sources and return it to the user.

• The mapping mechanisms of DTDSA allow XLE to assemble an XML document from a relational table, a set of relational tables related by foreign-key relationships, or more advanced relationships.

You can download XLE from IBM’s alphaWorks site at www.alphaworks.ibm.com/tech/xle. This product is currently in the development stages and is not yet fully supported by IBM; however, you have the opportunity to download XLE in its alpha state, play with it a little, and share your comments with the alphaWorks team. Additionally, you can see how others rated XLE as well as join an XLE discussion group at www.alphaworks. ibm.com/aw.nsf/discussion. With Java, XML, XML parsers, DTDs, and the new XLE technology, you now have all the tools necessary for writing business applications that easily cross platform and data barriers. What more could you ask for? I know...silly question.


BLOG COMMENTS POWERED BY DISQUS

LATEST COMMENTS

Support MC Press Online

$

Book Reviews

Resource Center

  • SB Profound WC 5536 Have you been wondering about Node.js? Our free Node.js Webinar Series takes you from total beginner to creating a fully-functional IBM i Node.js business application. You can find Part 1 here. In Part 2 of our free Node.js Webinar Series, Brian May teaches you the different tooling options available for writing code, debugging, and using Git for version control. Brian will briefly discuss the different tools available, and demonstrate his preferred setup for Node development on IBM i or any platform. Attend this webinar to learn:

  • SB Profound WP 5539More than ever, there is a demand for IT to deliver innovation. Your IBM i has been an essential part of your business operations for years. However, your organization may struggle to maintain the current system and implement new projects. The thousands of customers we've worked with and surveyed state that expectations regarding the digital footprint and vision of the company are not aligned with the current IT environment.

  • SB HelpSystems ROBOT Generic IBM announced the E1080 servers using the latest Power10 processor in September 2021. The most powerful processor from IBM to date, Power10 is designed to handle the demands of doing business in today’s high-tech atmosphere, including running cloud applications, supporting big data, and managing AI workloads. But what does Power10 mean for your data center? In this recorded webinar, IBMers Dan Sundt and Dylan Boday join IBM Power Champion Tom Huntington for a discussion on why Power10 technology is the right strategic investment if you run IBM i, AIX, or Linux. In this action-packed hour, Tom will share trends from the IBM i and AIX user communities while Dan and Dylan dive into the tech specs for key hardware, including:

  • Magic MarkTRY the one package that solves all your document design and printing challenges on all your platforms. Produce bar code labels, electronic forms, ad hoc reports, and RFID tags – without programming! MarkMagic is the only document design and print solution that combines report writing, WYSIWYG label and forms design, and conditional printing in one integrated product. Make sure your data survives when catastrophe hits. Request your trial now!  Request Now.

  • SB HelpSystems ROBOT GenericForms of ransomware has been around for over 30 years, and with more and more organizations suffering attacks each year, it continues to endure. What has made ransomware such a durable threat and what is the best way to combat it? In order to prevent ransomware, organizations must first understand how it works.

  • SB HelpSystems ROBOT GenericIT security is a top priority for businesses around the world, but most IBM i pros don’t know where to begin—and most cybersecurity experts don’t know IBM i. In this session, Robin Tatam explores the business impact of lax IBM i security, the top vulnerabilities putting IBM i at risk, and the steps you can take to protect your organization. If you’re looking to avoid unexpected downtime or corrupted data, you don’t want to miss this session.

  • SB HelpSystems ROBOT GenericCan you trust all of your users all of the time? A typical end user receives 16 malicious emails each month, but only 17 percent of these phishing campaigns are reported to IT. Once an attack is underway, most organizations won’t discover the breach until six months later. A staggering amount of damage can occur in that time. Despite these risks, 93 percent of organizations are leaving their IBM i systems vulnerable to cybercrime. In this on-demand webinar, IBM i security experts Robin Tatam and Sandi Moore will reveal:

  • FORTRA Disaster protection is vital to every business. Yet, it often consists of patched together procedures that are prone to error. From automatic backups to data encryption to media management, Robot automates the routine (yet often complex) tasks of iSeries backup and recovery, saving you time and money and making the process safer and more reliable. Automate your backups with the Robot Backup and Recovery Solution. Key features include:

  • FORTRAManaging messages on your IBM i can be more than a full-time job if you have to do it manually. Messages need a response and resources must be monitored—often over multiple systems and across platforms. How can you be sure you won’t miss important system events? Automate your message center with the Robot Message Management Solution. Key features include:

  • FORTRAThe thought of printing, distributing, and storing iSeries reports manually may reduce you to tears. Paper and labor costs associated with report generation can spiral out of control. Mountains of paper threaten to swamp your files. Robot automates report bursting, distribution, bundling, and archiving, and offers secure, selective online report viewing. Manage your reports with the Robot Report Management Solution. Key features include:

  • FORTRAFor over 30 years, Robot has been a leader in systems management for IBM i. With batch job creation and scheduling at its core, the Robot Job Scheduling Solution reduces the opportunity for human error and helps you maintain service levels, automating even the biggest, most complex runbooks. Manage your job schedule with the Robot Job Scheduling Solution. Key features include:

  • LANSA Business users want new applications now. Market and regulatory pressures require faster application updates and delivery into production. Your IBM i developers may be approaching retirement, and you see no sure way to fill their positions with experienced developers. In addition, you may be caught between maintaining your existing applications and the uncertainty of moving to something new.

  • LANSAWhen it comes to creating your business applications, there are hundreds of coding platforms and programming languages to choose from. These options range from very complex traditional programming languages to Low-Code platforms where sometimes no traditional coding experience is needed. Download our whitepaper, The Power of Writing Code in a Low-Code Solution, and:

  • LANSASupply Chain is becoming increasingly complex and unpredictable. From raw materials for manufacturing to food supply chains, the journey from source to production to delivery to consumers is marred with inefficiencies, manual processes, shortages, recalls, counterfeits, and scandals. In this webinar, we discuss how:

  • The MC Resource Centers bring you the widest selection of white papers, trial software, and on-demand webcasts for you to choose from. >> Review the list of White Papers, Trial Software or On-Demand Webcast at the MC Press Resource Center. >> Add the items to yru Cart and complet he checkout process and submit

  • Profound Logic Have you been wondering about Node.js? Our free Node.js Webinar Series takes you from total beginner to creating a fully-functional IBM i Node.js business application.

  • SB Profound WC 5536Join us for this hour-long webcast that will explore:

  • Fortra IT managers hoping to find new IBM i talent are discovering that the pool of experienced RPG programmers and operators or administrators with intimate knowledge of the operating system and the applications that run on it is small. This begs the question: How will you manage the platform that supports such a big part of your business? This guide offers strategies and software suggestions to help you plan IT staffing and resources and smooth the transition after your AS/400 talent retires. Read on to learn: