I would like to add a few words about the converter.
File formats like csv are just rows of records with fields. They are
very regular. For example, the csv data
And Now For Something Completely Different,1971, Ian MacNaughton
Monty Python And The Holy Grail,1975,Terr y Gilliam and Terry Jones
Monty Python's Life Of Brian,1979,Terr y Jones
Monty Python Live At The Hollywood Bowl,1982,Terry Hughes
Monty Python's The Meaning Of Life,1983,Terry Jones
can be converted to XML such as
<MontyPython>
<movie>
<title>And Now For Something Completely Different</title>
<releaseDate>19 71</releaseDate>
<director>Ian MacNaughton</director>
</movie>
<movie>
<title>Monty Python And The Holy Grail</title>
<releaseDate>19 75</releaseDate>
<director>Ter ry Gilliam and Terry Jones</director>
</movie>
<movie>
<title>Monty Python's Life Of Brian</title>
<releaseDate>19 79</releaseDate>
<director>Ter ry Jones</director>
</movie>
<movie>
<title>Monty Python Live At The Hollywood Bowl</title>
<releaseDate>19 82</releaseDate>
<director>Ter ry Hughes</director>
</movie>
<movie>
<title>Monty Python's The Meaning Of Life</title>
<releaseDate>19 83</releaseDate>
<director>Ter ry Jones</director>
</movie>
</MontyPython>
You do not really gain a lot by converting to XML, reading the original
csv file by human is almost as easy as reading the XML. Reading the csv
file by program (such as Python, where the above example comes from) is
easier than the XML file.
The strength of XML is not in highly regular data. XML is good for
semi-structured data with complex structure.
When you read such a complex data file like
P101999-10-2011Alice SmithS16123 Maple StreetMill Valley
CA0590952112Rob ert SmithP045354Old Town PA0595819P29Hur ry, my
lawn is going wild!06872-AA09Lawnmower01 106148.95P24Con firm this is
electricA06926-AA12Baby Monitor0110539. 98AP101999-05-21
To be able to convert it to XML would be a big win
<?xml version="1.0"?>
<purchaseOrde r orderDate="1999-10-20">
<shipTo country="US">
<name>Alice Smith</name>
<street>123 Maple Street</street>
<city>Mill Valley</city>
<state>CA</state>
<zip>90952</zip>
</shipTo>
<billTo country="US">
<name>Robert Smith</name>
<poBox>5354</poBox>
<city>Old Town</city>
<state>PA</state>
<zip>95819</zip>
</billTo>
<comment>Hurr y, my lawn is going wild!</comment>
<items>
<item partNum="872-AA">
<productName>La wnmower</productName>
<quantity>1</quantity>
<USPrice>148.95 </USPrice>
<comment>Confir m this is electric</comment>
</item>
<item partNum="926-AA">
<productName>Ba by Monitor</productName>
<quantity>1</quantity>
<USPrice>39.9 8</USPrice>
<shipDate>199 9-05-21</shipDate>
</item>
</items>
</purchaseOrder>
And this is what this converter would like to be good at.
data_mechanic(a t)yahoo(dot)com
*** Sent via Developersdex
http://www.developersdex.com ***