Re: [Tclxml-users] How to generate an XML document using TCL

[<Ste...@zv...>]

ski wrote:
> 
> > > I need to generate an XML document using a tcl script, how do i
> > > go about generating the same ?
> 
> as i read Sunil's post [and Steve's answer] i wondered out loud:
> "why XML?" Sunil talks of inventory data, can i assume a RDBMS
> holds this information?
> 
> Sunil suggests [reading between the lines] the end result is to
> view this inventory data with a browser. so again, "why XML?"
> 
> i have yet to write one line of XML. i use PHP to extract the
> proper data from any RDBMS and dispaly it in a browser. there
> is no 'middle' step. there is only [almost] real time access
> to the REAL data in the database.
> 
> how does tcl and XML help in this scenario?

I don't think Sunil gives enough information about the application
to answer this question (at least in a meaningful way - we can always
debate the issues regardless ;-)

The typical answer in this scenario is that the application is
using XML as a data exchange language.  XML is not necessarily the
best way to *store* data (an RDBMS may be a better solution, 
my favourite DBMS would be MetaKit) but it is an excellent language
for *transmitting* data.  The benefits of using XML for data exchange
are many, but include platform- and language-independence,
structuring of data, etc, etc.

The fact that Sunil wants to display the data in a browser does
not preclude XML - you can do client-side transformations using XSL.

Cheers,
Steve Ball

-- 
Steve Ball            |   XSLT Standard Library   | Training & Seminars
Zveno Pty Ltd         |     Web Tcl Complete      |   XML XSL Schemas
http://www.zveno.com/ |      TclXML TclDOM        | Tcl, Web Development
Ste...@zv...  +---------------------------+---------------------
Ph. +61 2 6242 4099   |   Mobile (0413) 594 462   | Fax +61 2 6242 4099