[mapserver-users] XML mapfile?

[C F]

On top of the things I mentioned, the other "cool" thing I forgot to mention 
is, validation.  You veterans probably don't have this problem... but being 
a new MapServer prospect, I've had some real problems tracking down my 
mapfile errors.  Writing an XML schema that defines all the rules for the 
mapfile format is pretty straightforward and XML parsers are generally good 
at telling exactly what rule has been broken and where.


>From: Puneet Kishor <pkishor at geoanalytics.com>
>To: Daniel Morissette <morissette at dmsolutions.ca>
>CC: C F <gis_consultant at hotmail.com>, mapserver-users at lists.gis.umn.edu
>Subject: Re: [mapserver-users] XML mapfile?
>Date: Wed, 22 May 2002 11:04:06 -0500
>
>I have wondered about XML myself, and thought, at times, that it would be 
>cool to have XML. Now, reading Daniel's reasoning, I must say what he says 
>makes sense... besides the cool factor, we have to question what XML will 
>do for us. XML facilitates inter-application communication... other than 
>that it is a pain in the ass. If Mapserver is the only program gonna be 
>reading the mapfile, we can make it whatever we want it to, and what it is 
>now is good enough.
>
>However, in the spirit of discussion, there is one area where XML might be 
>helpful. Most code editors (Homesite, jEdit, Pepper) nowadays can parse XML 
>to create an XML tree. This can make editing a complex Mapfile easier as 
>one can check for node closures, correctness and completeness.
>
>Other than that, I don't see any great advantage to XML.
>
>pk/


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