FW: [Java-collab] Simple Text Exchange Format

[Miguel Montesinos]

Sorry,

I replied to, but the list is not set-up for relaying replies to the list. Is it possible to fix this? Thanks

I forward the message.

Cheers 

>-----Original Message-----
>From: Miguel Montesinos 
>Sent: Wednesday, May 28, 2008 10:09 AM
>To: 'Andreas Schmitz'
>Subject: RE: [Java-collab] Simple Text Exchange Format
>
>Hello,
>
>In gvSIG we are finishing support for BXML (Binary XML)[1], 
>which (in case you don't know about it) is a kind of binary 
>version of GML.
>
>Bandwith usage is reduced and processing throughput is 
>increased several times. It's binary and it's near standards, 
>as it an OGC Best Practice.  It's also suitable for OGC 
>protocols which use GML like WFS.
>
>The libraries which offer support for BXML are decoupled from 
>gvSIG core, so that they can be easily used by other projects.
>
>If we need readable format, my choose is GML.
>If we want binary format, I propose BXML.
>
>Regards
>
>[1] http://portal.opengeospatial.org/files/?artifact_id=13636
>
>---------------------------------
>Miguel Montesinos
>Director Técnico
>PRODEVELOP
>C/ Conde Salvatierra, 34 - 10
>46004 Valencia. Spain
>e-mail: mmontesinos at prodevelop.es
>http://www.prodevelop.es
>Tlf: +34 963510612
>
> 
>
>>-----Original Message-----
>>From: java-collab-bounces at lists.osgeo.org
>>[mailto:java-collab-bounces at lists.osgeo.org] On Behalf Of Andreas 
>>Schmitz
>>Sent: Wednesday, May 28, 2008 9:43 AM
>>To: java-collab at lists.osgeo.org
>>Subject: Re: [Java-collab] Simple Text Exchange Format
>>
>>Paul Austin wrote:
>>
>>Hi,
>>
>>> I saw in one of the other posts there was a discussion of binary 
>>> format to replace shape files quick random access to data. Someone 
>>> suggested using an embedded database such as H2 with a spatial 
>>> extension. I think that using a database is a much better way to go 
>>> for this kind of access. Otherwise if we come up with our 
>own binary 
>>> format we'll need to deal with all the issues such as storage 
>>> management and indexing that databases already do for us.
>>
>>I must say that I agree with Landon here (in the other post), 
>I'd also 
>>like to see a binary format that is more portable through 
>languages and 
>>platforms. That said, I'm sure that a way to store data in an 
>embedded 
>>database has it's own charm.
>>Storing data in that way would also enable (more or less 
>easy) transfer 
>>of the data to a "real" spatial database like PostGIS (and 
>vice versa).
>>
>>> I do however think that we need a simple format for exchange
>>of data.  
>>> Exchanging data may be via files or via a web service. GML
>>in my view
>>> is very verbose and complex to read and write and does not
>>include an
>>> embedded schema.
>>
>>Agreed.
>>
>>> I have been working on a CSV derivative which I'm calling
>>Enhanced-CSV.  
>>> Basically it's a CSV file where the format is strict about 
>placement 
>>> of commas and use of "". It also has two header sections. The first 
>>> section is a list of properties about the file, such as type name, 
>>> projection, author and a list of which attribute headers
>>will follow. 
>>> The next header is the attribute header (schema). There can be 
>>> multiple attribute headers including the name,type, length,
>>precision,
>>> required flag of the attribute. There is one entry for each data 
>>> column (attribute). Finally there is the data section which is just 
>>> all your rows of data encoded as CSV. Geometries are encoded as WKT
>>
>>Sounds easy and simple - I like it!
>>
>>> I'm working on a specification for this format and hopefully should 
>>> have a draft up in the next month or so. I have developed a
>>reader and
>>> writer and a JUMP plug-in which I'll make available when I've 
>>> finalized the specification.
>>>
>>> Is this something that would interest any one else?
>>
>>Definitely. Will the reader/writer be OpenSource? Which license?
>>
>>Best regards, Andreas
>>--
>>l a t / l o n  GmbH
>>Aennchenstrasse 19           53177 Bonn, Germany
>>phone ++49 +228 18496-12     fax ++49 +228 1849629
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>>
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