Presents your 
XML E-NEWSLETTER for June 26, 2002

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WHAT'S IN YOUR XML TOOLKIT?

As a developer, it's important to be familiar with the tools you are
using. Most developers are comfortable using tools they know but tend to be
skeptical of new ones. However, the mastery of tools greatly improves productivity.

Tools are as important when working with XML as they are when working
with any other technology, and there are many situations in which having
the right tool on hand can save you time and frustration. Let's look at
some components that you might include in your custom XML Toolkit.

PARSERS

Probably the most important item in your toolkit is the XML parser
itself. Depending on the environment, you may need several parsers. For
example, if you only have a Java parser on hand and the project is in C++,
you'll have a problem.

It might also be helpful to have multiple versions of each parser. XML
has changed over the years and different versions implement different
features and have various compatibility issues. Some of the most popular XML
parsers include those from the Apache Group and Microsoft.

DOCUMENTATION

Beyond the actual XML parser, you'll need the documentation. Although
most organizations are now online (and allow you to download new parsers
and view documentation via the Internet) not all of them are.

You don't want to find yourself in a situation where you need the
documentation and (for whatever reason) Internet access is unavailable. 
Having the appropriate documentation for your parsers and tools can help
alleviate problems for which the implementation is not intuitive.

SAMPLES AND EXAMPLES

One of the most powerful items in any developer's toolkit is sample
code. For XML developers, this includes sample XML documents, samples of
XPath techniques, and sample XSL templates.

As you learn how to apply a particular XML technique, archiving it in
your library can prove helpful at a later time. This is especially true of
lesser-used techniques. Without a proper example, you might spend time
recreating or searching the Internet. By storing these examples and samples
in your toolkit, they will be ready when you need them.

TOOLS

Although you may not consider many of the items mentioned so far as
tools, they are all part of the toolkit. There are a handful of additional
tools that are useful for XML developers as well.

To start with, a tool for formatting XML documents is a must-have. The
ability to view a document in a neat and printable format can go a long
way when troubleshooting a problem. One such tool is Microsoft Internet
Explorer. It formats XML documents and presents them in a way that is easy
to view and navigate.

Next, a tool that can generate DTDs from XML documents, sample XML
documents from DTDs, and Schemas from DTDs is a necessity. It is typically
easier for XML developers to start with a working document and then
reverse-engineer the DTD. By starting with the DTD, you can often omit important
pieces of data; starting with the XML document, you get closer to what
you want. A tool that works in this manner can speed development. XML Spy
combines these features with many others and can be very helpful if you
work frequently with XML documents.

Finally, there are a handful of auxiliary tools that should be included
in your toolkit. This includes XPath evaluators and XSL processors.
Powerful tools like these can help troubleshoot advanced issues with XPath and XSL templates.

LIBRARIES

The final components of your toolkit should be any relevant libraries.
You may have several Java packages or JARs with XML functions you
frequently use. Place your JARs and Java files into your toolkit library.

Additionally, you may have written or collected various XSL functions.
Organize and store these in your library as well. A final item to include
in your library might be finished XML solutions, which include source
code, templates, DTDs, Schemas, and static documents.

Brian Schaffner is a senior consultant for Fujitsu Consulting. He
provides architecture, design, and development support for Fujitsu's Telcom360 group.

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