XML attributes or node ?

[R.A.F.]

Hi,

When i see a XML file i'm still wondering what are the differences
between writing node data as node attributes or as children nodes.

for example, what are the advantage to write such thing :
<setting>
<client>
<name>Vaporex</name>
<address>Saint Hope st.</address>
</client>
</setting>

instead of :
<setting>
<client name="Vaporex" address="Saint Hope st."></client>
</setting>

my question is the following one :
- which XML structure make a node or attribute research faster ?
Moreover, what should be written as attribute and what should be written
as children node ?

thanks a lot,

RAF

[Kerem Gümrükcü]

Hi RAF,

>my question is the following one :
- which XML structure make a node or attribute research faster ?

I dont have performance measures and experience on this
since i never had to read "really" huge xml files. But i think
this also heavily depends on the kind of xml parser you
use. Dont ask me how the System.Xml Parser handles huge
files. I store huge and important things inside a RDBMS like
SQL Server, Oracle, or another proven and stable system
not a xml file,...

>Moreover, what should be written as attribute and what should be written as
children node ?

This depends on the extensibillity of your application
and sometimes it is a choice of style. It is sometimes
the same with objects in OO Programming. You will
have a vehicle class, it will have a child object that can be
a car class and it can have attributes like a engine="V6"
and its fuel="leaded" and four tires with attribute brand="bridgestone"
then it can be extended with for seats and they will have the
attributes like material = "leather" or color = "red". I am sure
tthat you understand what i am talking about,...

example:

<vehicle>
<car engine="V6" fuel="leaded" model="muscle car">
<tires count="4" brand="bridgestone">
<seats count="4" material="leather" color="red">
</seats>
</tires>
</car>
</vehicle>

Sure this is a simple example but it show the basic structure
how this can be accomplished. The example can be completely
reorganized but this depends, as i said on the extensibility of
your application and how the "range" of your abstraction should
be and how you want it to be,...
Regards

Kerem

--
-----------------------
Beste Grüsse / Best regards / Votre bien devoue
Kerem Gümrükcü
Microsoft Live Space: http://kerem-g.spaces.live.com/
Latest Open-Source Projects: http://entwicklung.junetz.de
-----------------------
"This reply is provided as is, without warranty express or implied."

[Dubravko Sever]

"R.A.F." <no*****@nospam.comwrote in message
news:eV**************@TK2MSFTNGP04.phx.gbl...

Hi,

When i see a XML file i'm still wondering what are the differences between
writing node data as node attributes or as children nodes.

for example, what are the advantage to write such thing :
<setting>
<client>
<name>Vaporex</name>
<address>Saint Hope st.</address>
</client>
</setting>

instead of :
<setting>
<client name="Vaporex" address="Saint Hope st."></client>
</setting>

my question is the following one :
- which XML structure make a node or attribute research faster ?
Moreover, what should be written as attribute and what should be written
as children node ?

Hi,

It depends,
It could be the same if you planning to use one atrribute with name "name"
(it's simple to read), but in some situation you will have to use multiple
(1..n) as :

<client>
<name>Vaporex</name>
<name>Vaporex123</name>
</client>

Correct me if i'm wrong.

D.S.