Subj : XML
To   : Michiel van der Vlist
From : andrew clarke
Date : Mon Jan 13 2003 05:10 am

Wed 2003-01-08 16:34, Michiel van der Vlist (2:280/5555) wrote to andrew 
clarke:

 ac>> Windows, or Linux computer. When data is written in XML, it
 ac>> can be transferred between applications, regardless of the
 ac>> factors that would typically mandate transforming the data
 ac>> into a useable format."

 > And how does that make it different from comma delimited ascii?

That alone doesn't make it any different from CSV.  There are other advantages 
to XML over CVS.  Some things come to mind:

1. You can describe the purpose of each field, eg:

,267,Blizzard_of_Ozz,Mt_Eliza_Vic

does not describe what each field is for.  But this does:

<node> 267 </node>
<name> Blizzard of Ozz> </name>
<location> Mt Eliza Vic </location>

It is more verbose, but that's the price you have to pay.

2. It provides a form of data hierachy, eg.

<ftsc>
  <fts>
    <file>
      <name>FTS-0001.016</name>
      <date>1995-09-30</date>
      <desc>A Basic FidoNet(r) Technical Standard</desc>
      <auth>Randy Bush</auth>
    </file>
    <file>
      <name>FTS-0004.001</name>
      <date>1987-12-12</date>
      <desc>The Conference Mail System (EchoMail Specification)</desc>
      <auth>Bob Hartman</auth>
    </file>
....
  </fts>

  <fsc>
    <file>
      <name>FSC-0003.001</name>
      <date>198?-??-??</date>
      <desc>FidoNet Route Files Explained</desc>
      <auth>Ben Baker</auth>
    </file>
    <file>
      <name>FSC-0004.001</name>
      <date>1987-02-09</date>
      <desc>INTL kludge</desc>
      <auth>Randy Bush</auth>
    </file>
....
  </fsc>
</ftsc>

3. It's usually easier to edit in a text editor.

4. It's easier to post to an echo.  ;-)

-- mail@ozzmosis.com

--- Msged/NT 6.1.1
 * Origin: Blizzard of Ozz, Mt Eliza, Victoria, Australia (3:633/267.1)

.