When to use XMLC
XMLC is a tool that generates template objects from HTML and XML documents.
While XMLC is a general tool, its primary purpose is to assist in the
development of dynamic HTML and XML content. It provides a structured method
for modifying the document that does not require non-standard changes to the
contents of the document. The advantages for using XMLC for content
development are:
- Separation of the development of HTML and XML documents from their
programmatic modification. The contents of the document remain legal
HTML/XML that can be be developed using standard interactive design
tools. Documents developed with HTML design tools are very difficult for
the programmer to modify and once modified by hand can then be difficult
to future modify with a design tools.
- A collection of documents can remain a valid mockup of the application.
Changes to the layout of a page can often be made without modifying the
code that uses it. This allows a document designer and a programmer
to continue to develop in parallel. Mockup data can be left in tables
to provide a realistic appearance. The designer can continue to
refine the appearance of a site while the programmer develops code.
- XMLC generates access methods for document tags that have identifiers
associated with them. This not only makes it easier to manipulate the
contents of the page, it also provides for compile time checking for
changes in a page that will affect the code that generates dynamic
content. If a tag that code is dependent on is removed or changes time,
it will be detected by the Java compiler, not by visual inspection of the
resulting dynamic page.
- Parsing of the HTML/XML document is done at compile time rather an
run time. This may offer a significant performance benefit for
complex pages.
- The flow of control of the code remains separate from the page.
Technologies that mix content and data in a single file result in code
that is often difficult to understand and has trouble taking full
advantage of the object oriented programming paradigm.
The display of XMLC generated pages is not limited to a WWW browser,
they can be useful for display in a HTML or XML widget running in
a Java applet or application. A program based on XMLC cab be used
to generate static HTML/XML files that are then server by a traditional
HTTP server.
While XMLC is particularly advantageous for generating dynamic HTML/XML pages
on a server for display in a client, there is nothing in the technology that
restrict it to this use. Any XML manipulation task where some of the outlined
attributes apply could use XMLC. It can be use in any application where the
manipulation of pre-parsed XML files is desired.