[U2] XML format question
I'm importing some XML, and a question came up with the following: I'm writing a small xml extraction program to setup a dynamic array, what is the difference between putting a field inside the label vs putting the field between the tags of the label? Aren't they both a subset of the label? I always thought that if the field was a single value field, it would be quoted and inside the label, but if it could be a multivaled field, it would go between the field tags, with it's own field/tags. Result precision=addressLatitude39.931085/Latitude Longitude-77.387943/LongitudeAddress1001 N Some Rd/Address CitySomewhere/CityStatePA/StateZip15063-1404/ZipCountryUS/Country /Result Could this have formatted just as well as: Resultprecisionaddress/precisionLatitude39.931085/Latitude Longitude-77.387943/LongitudeAddress1001 N Some Rd/Address CitySomewhere/CityStatePA/StateZip19063-1404/ZipCountryUS/Country /Result or Result precision=address Latitude=39.931085 Longitude=-77.387943 Address=1001 N Some Rd City=Somewhere State=PA Zip=19063-1404 Country=US/Result George Gallen Senior Programmer/Analyst Accounting/Data Division, EDI Administrator ggal...@wyanokegroup.com ph:856.848.9005 Ext 220 The Wyanoke Group http://www.wyanokegroup.com ___ U2-Users mailing list U2-Users@listserver.u2ug.org http://listserver.u2ug.org/mailman/listinfo/u2-users
Re: [U2] XML format question
George, either way will work. The by product of making xml attribute centric (fields inside the label) is that it produces smaller files (about half the size of element centric). If your producing small files that may be read by an admin, then go with element centric as it is easier to read. Otherwise attribute centric is much better for storage and transfer. Norm On Thu, May 13, 2010 at 11:06 AM, George Gallen ggal...@wyanokegroup.comwrote: I'm importing some XML, and a question came up with the following: I'm writing a small xml extraction program to setup a dynamic array, what is the difference between putting a field inside the label vs putting the field between the tags of the label? Aren't they both a subset of the label? I always thought that if the field was a single value field, it would be quoted and inside the label, but if it could be a multivaled field, it would go between the field tags, with it's own field/tags. Result precision=addressLatitude39.931085/Latitude Longitude-77.387943/LongitudeAddress1001 N Some Rd/Address CitySomewhere/CityStatePA/StateZip15063-1404/ZipCountryUS/Country /Result Could this have formatted just as well as: Resultprecisionaddress/precisionLatitude39.931085/Latitude Longitude-77.387943/LongitudeAddress1001 N Some Rd/Address CitySomewhere/CityStatePA/StateZip19063-1404/ZipCountryUS/Country /Result or Result precision=address Latitude=39.931085 Longitude=-77.387943 Address=1001 N Some Rd City=Somewhere State=PA Zip=19063-1404 Country=US/Result George Gallen Senior Programmer/Analyst Accounting/Data Division, EDI Administrator ggal...@wyanokegroup.com ph:856.848.9005 Ext 220 The Wyanoke Group http://www.wyanokegroup.com ___ U2-Users mailing list U2-Users@listserver.u2ug.org http://listserver.u2ug.org/mailman/listinfo/u2-users ___ U2-Users mailing list U2-Users@listserver.u2ug.org http://listserver.u2ug.org/mailman/listinfo/u2-users
Re: [U2] XML format question
I'm not producing the file, I'm reading the file and was trying to figure out why some of the field were inside the result label, and others were between the result /result tags. I was trying to setup the structure of the dynamic array I am putting the data into. -Original Message- From: u2-users-boun...@listserver.u2ug.org [mailto:u2-users- boun...@listserver.u2ug.org] On Behalf Of Norman Bauer Sent: Thursday, May 13, 2010 11:15 AM To: U2 Users List Subject: Re: [U2] XML format question George, either way will work. The by product of making xml attribute centric (fields inside the label) is that it produces smaller files (about half the size of element centric). If your producing small files that may be read by an admin, then go with element centric as it is easier to read. Otherwise attribute centric is much better for storage and transfer. Norm On Thu, May 13, 2010 at 11:06 AM, George Gallen ggal...@wyanokegroup.comwrote: I'm importing some XML, and a question came up with the following: I'm writing a small xml extraction program to setup a dynamic array, what is the difference between putting a field inside the label vs putting the field between the tags of the label? Aren't they both a subset of the label? I always thought that if the field was a single value field, it would be quoted and inside the label, but if it could be a multivaled field, it would go between the field tags, with it's own field/tags. Result precision=addressLatitude39.931085/Latitude Longitude-77.387943/LongitudeAddress1001 N Some Rd/Address CitySomewhere/CityStatePA/StateZip15063- 1404/ZipCountryUS/Country /Result Could this have formatted just as well as: Resultprecisionaddress/precisionLatitude39.931085/Latitude Longitude-77.387943/LongitudeAddress1001 N Some Rd/Address CitySomewhere/CityStatePA/StateZip19063- 1404/ZipCountryUS/Country /Result or Result precision=address Latitude=39.931085 Longitude=- 77.387943 Address=1001 N Some Rd City=Somewhere State=PA Zip=19063- 1404 Country=US/Result George Gallen Senior Programmer/Analyst Accounting/Data Division, EDI Administrator ggal...@wyanokegroup.com ph:856.848.9005 Ext 220 The Wyanoke Group http://www.wyanokegroup.com ___ U2-Users mailing list U2-Users@listserver.u2ug.org http://listserver.u2ug.org/mailman/listinfo/u2-users ___ U2-Users mailing list U2-Users@listserver.u2ug.org http://listserver.u2ug.org/mailman/listinfo/u2-users ___ U2-Users mailing list U2-Users@listserver.u2ug.org http://listserver.u2ug.org/mailman/listinfo/u2-users
Re: [U2] XML format question
George So to paraphrase, when do you use attributes to hold data and when do you elements.. The problem is, there is no clear answer to this, and everyone who designs XML schema has to grapple with this question. The only simple answer is that if a value could legitimately have an attribute associated with it to qualify it, it should be an element. So in your example, the precision attribute is qualifying the type/content of the Latitude element. But that is really just a design and not a technical choice. The real answer is more pragmatic - it generally depends on what the consumer of that data wants. In parsing terms, attributes and elements are not the same so if the contract calls for an element, use an element; and if it calls for an attribute, use an attribute. It's a question I've asked lots of times and never really had a solid or consistent answer. Brian -Original Message- From: u2-users-boun...@listserver.u2ug.org [mailto:u2-users-boun...@listserver.u2ug.org] On Behalf Of George Gallen Sent: 13 May 2010 4:06 PM To: U2 Users List Subject: [U2] XML format question I'm importing some XML, and a question came up with the following: I'm writing a small xml extraction program to setup a dynamic array, what is the difference between putting a field inside the label vs putting the field between the tags of the label? Aren't they both a subset of the label? I always thought that if the field was a single value field, it would be quoted and inside the label, but if it could be a multivaled field, it would go between the field tags, with it's own field/tags. Result precision=addressLatitude39.931085/Latitude Longitude-77.387943/LongitudeAddress1001 N Some Rd/Address CitySomewhere/CityStatePA/StateZip15063-1404/ZipCountryUS/Cou ntry /Result Could this have formatted just as well as: Resultprecisionaddress/precisionLatitude39.931085/Latitude Longitude-77.387943/LongitudeAddress1001 N Some Rd/Address CitySomewhere/CityStatePA/StateZip19063-1404/ZipCountryUS/Cou ntry /Result or Result precision=address Latitude=39.931085 Longitude=-77.387943 Address=1001 N Some Rd City=Somewhere State=PA Zip=19063-1404 Country=US/Result George Gallen Senior Programmer/Analyst Accounting/Data Division, EDI Administrator ggal...@wyanokegroup.com ph:856.848.9005 Ext 220 The Wyanoke Group http://www.wyanokegroup.com ___ U2-Users mailing list U2-Users@listserver.u2ug.org http://listserver.u2ug.org/mailman/listinfo/u2-users No virus found in this incoming message. Checked by AVG - www.avg.com Version: 9.0.819 / Virus Database: 271.1.1/2870 - Release Date: 05/12/10 19:26:00 ___ U2-Users mailing list U2-Users@listserver.u2ug.org http://listserver.u2ug.org/mailman/listinfo/u2-users
Re: [U2] XML format question
Ahh the old attribute/element discussion - much to be said on this in various quarters, you may want to google on xml elements or attributes to gain some insight. If space is of concern then attributes take less room, but then again if space is of concern don't do xml, do json/csv/edi etc Personally i do as much as poss in elements, and keep the attribute for simple standard things like id, date etc. It then means you can place things like cdata into all your fields and so limits you less in some regard Rgds Symeon. -Original Message- From: u2-users-boun...@listserver.u2ug.org [mailto:u2-users-boun...@listserver.u2ug.org] On Behalf Of George Gallen Sent: 13 May 2010 16:06 To: U2 Users List Subject: [U2] XML format question I'm importing some XML, and a question came up with the following: I'm writing a small xml extraction program to setup a dynamic array, what is the difference between putting a field inside the label vs putting the field between the tags of the label? Aren't they both a subset of the label? I always thought that if the field was a single value field, it would be quoted and inside the label, but if it could be a multivaled field, it would go between the field tags, with it's own field/tags. Result precision=addressLatitude39.931085/Latitude Longitude-77.387943/LongitudeAddress1001 N Some Rd/Address CitySomewhere/CityStatePA/StateZip15063-1404/ZipCountryUS/Cou ntry /Result Could this have formatted just as well as: Resultprecisionaddress/precisionLatitude39.931085/Latitude Longitude-77.387943/LongitudeAddress1001 N Some Rd/Address CitySomewhere/CityStatePA/StateZip19063-1404/ZipCountryUS/Cou ntry /Result or Result precision=address Latitude=39.931085 Longitude=-77.387943 Address=1001 N Some Rd City=Somewhere State=PA Zip=19063-1404 Country=US/Result George Gallen Senior Programmer/Analyst Accounting/Data Division, EDI Administrator ggal...@wyanokegroup.com ph:856.848.9005 Ext 220 The Wyanoke Group http://www.wyanokegroup.com ___ U2-Users mailing list U2-Users@listserver.u2ug.org http://listserver.u2ug.org/mailman/listinfo/u2-users ___ U2-Users mailing list U2-Users@listserver.u2ug.org http://listserver.u2ug.org/mailman/listinfo/u2-users
Re: [U2] XML format question
If space is of concern then attributes take less room, but then again if space is of concern don't do xml, do json/csv/edi etc excellent advice. norm On Thu, May 13, 2010 at 11:25 AM, Symeon Breen syme...@gmail.com wrote: Ahh the old attribute/element discussion - much to be said on this in various quarters, you may want to google on xml elements or attributes to gain some insight. If space is of concern then attributes take less room, but then again if space is of concern don't do xml, do json/csv/edi etc Personally i do as much as poss in elements, and keep the attribute for simple standard things like id, date etc. It then means you can place things like cdata into all your fields and so limits you less in some regard Rgds Symeon. -Original Message- From: u2-users-boun...@listserver.u2ug.org [mailto:u2-users-boun...@listserver.u2ug.org] On Behalf Of George Gallen Sent: 13 May 2010 16:06 To: U2 Users List Subject: [U2] XML format question I'm importing some XML, and a question came up with the following: I'm writing a small xml extraction program to setup a dynamic array, what is the difference between putting a field inside the label vs putting the field between the tags of the label? Aren't they both a subset of the label? I always thought that if the field was a single value field, it would be quoted and inside the label, but if it could be a multivaled field, it would go between the field tags, with it's own field/tags. Result precision=addressLatitude39.931085/Latitude Longitude-77.387943/LongitudeAddress1001 N Some Rd/Address CitySomewhere/CityStatePA/StateZip15063-1404/ZipCountryUS/Cou ntry /Result Could this have formatted just as well as: Resultprecisionaddress/precisionLatitude39.931085/Latitude Longitude-77.387943/LongitudeAddress1001 N Some Rd/Address CitySomewhere/CityStatePA/StateZip19063-1404/ZipCountryUS/Cou ntry /Result or Result precision=address Latitude=39.931085 Longitude=-77.387943 Address=1001 N Some Rd City=Somewhere State=PA Zip=19063-1404 Country=US/Result George Gallen Senior Programmer/Analyst Accounting/Data Division, EDI Administrator ggal...@wyanokegroup.com ph:856.848.9005 Ext 220 The Wyanoke Group http://www.wyanokegroup.com ___ U2-Users mailing list U2-Users@listserver.u2ug.org http://listserver.u2ug.org/mailman/listinfo/u2-users ___ U2-Users mailing list U2-Users@listserver.u2ug.org http://listserver.u2ug.org/mailman/listinfo/u2-users ___ U2-Users mailing list U2-Users@listserver.u2ug.org http://listserver.u2ug.org/mailman/listinfo/u2-users
Re: [U2] XML format question
since space concerns do not fall into place for my part, the xml has already been done, I had no control over that. I'm just trying to interpret the data correctly. -Original Message- From: u2-users-boun...@listserver.u2ug.org [mailto:u2-users- boun...@listserver.u2ug.org] On Behalf Of Norman Bauer Sent: Thursday, May 13, 2010 11:27 AM To: U2 Users List Subject: Re: [U2] XML format question If space is of concern then attributes take less room, but then again if space is of concern don't do xml, do json/csv/edi etc excellent advice. norm On Thu, May 13, 2010 at 11:25 AM, Symeon Breen syme...@gmail.com wrote: Ahh the old attribute/element discussion - much to be said on this in various quarters, you may want to google on xml elements or attributes to gain some insight. If space is of concern then attributes take less room, but then again if space is of concern don't do xml, do json/csv/edi etc Personally i do as much as poss in elements, and keep the attribute for simple standard things like id, date etc. It then means you can place things like cdata into all your fields and so limits you less in some regard Rgds Symeon. -Original Message- From: u2-users-boun...@listserver.u2ug.org [mailto:u2-users-boun...@listserver.u2ug.org] On Behalf Of George Gallen Sent: 13 May 2010 16:06 To: U2 Users List Subject: [U2] XML format question I'm importing some XML, and a question came up with the following: I'm writing a small xml extraction program to setup a dynamic array, what is the difference between putting a field inside the label vs putting the field between the tags of the label? Aren't they both a subset of the label? I always thought that if the field was a single value field, it would be quoted and inside the label, but if it could be a multivaled field, it would go between the field tags, with it's own field/tags. Result precision=addressLatitude39.931085/Latitude Longitude-77.387943/LongitudeAddress1001 N Some Rd/Address CitySomewhere/CityStatePA/StateZip15063- 1404/ZipCountryUS/Cou ntry /Result Could this have formatted just as well as: Resultprecisionaddress/precisionLatitude39.931085/Latitude Longitude-77.387943/LongitudeAddress1001 N Some Rd/Address CitySomewhere/CityStatePA/StateZip19063- 1404/ZipCountryUS/Cou ntry /Result or Result precision=address Latitude=39.931085 Longitude=- 77.387943 Address=1001 N Some Rd City=Somewhere State=PA Zip=19063- 1404 Country=US/Result George Gallen Senior Programmer/Analyst Accounting/Data Division, EDI Administrator ggal...@wyanokegroup.com ph:856.848.9005 Ext 220 The Wyanoke Group http://www.wyanokegroup.com ___ U2-Users mailing list U2-Users@listserver.u2ug.org http://listserver.u2ug.org/mailman/listinfo/u2-users ___ U2-Users mailing list U2-Users@listserver.u2ug.org http://listserver.u2ug.org/mailman/listinfo/u2-users ___ U2-Users mailing list U2-Users@listserver.u2ug.org http://listserver.u2ug.org/mailman/listinfo/u2-users ___ U2-Users mailing list U2-Users@listserver.u2ug.org http://listserver.u2ug.org/mailman/listinfo/u2-users
Re: [U2] XML format question
It makes no difference for your extraction, there are no hard/fast rules as to why they have done it that way, if it is an attribute it will only be single valued, whereas if it is an element, it may be multivalued. A dtd or xsd will define if it is a multiple occurring element. -Original Message- From: u2-users-boun...@listserver.u2ug.org [mailto:u2-users-boun...@listserver.u2ug.org] On Behalf Of George Gallen Sent: 13 May 2010 16:22 To: U2 Users List Subject: Re: [U2] XML format question I'm not producing the file, I'm reading the file and was trying to figure out why some of the field were inside the result label, and others were between the result /result tags. I was trying to setup the structure of the dynamic array I am putting the data into. -Original Message- From: u2-users-boun...@listserver.u2ug.org [mailto:u2-users- boun...@listserver.u2ug.org] On Behalf Of Norman Bauer Sent: Thursday, May 13, 2010 11:15 AM To: U2 Users List Subject: Re: [U2] XML format question George, either way will work. The by product of making xml attribute centric (fields inside the label) is that it produces smaller files (about half the size of element centric). If your producing small files that may be read by an admin, then go with element centric as it is easier to read. Otherwise attribute centric is much better for storage and transfer. Norm On Thu, May 13, 2010 at 11:06 AM, George Gallen ggal...@wyanokegroup.comwrote: I'm importing some XML, and a question came up with the following: I'm writing a small xml extraction program to setup a dynamic array, what is the difference between putting a field inside the label vs putting the field between the tags of the label? Aren't they both a subset of the label? I always thought that if the field was a single value field, it would be quoted and inside the label, but if it could be a multivaled field, it would go between the field tags, with it's own field/tags. Result precision=addressLatitude39.931085/Latitude Longitude-77.387943/LongitudeAddress1001 N Some Rd/Address CitySomewhere/CityStatePA/StateZip15063- 1404/ZipCountryUS/Country /Result Could this have formatted just as well as: Resultprecisionaddress/precisionLatitude39.931085/Latitude Longitude-77.387943/LongitudeAddress1001 N Some Rd/Address CitySomewhere/CityStatePA/StateZip19063- 1404/ZipCountryUS/Country /Result or Result precision=address Latitude=39.931085 Longitude=- 77.387943 Address=1001 N Some Rd City=Somewhere State=PA Zip=19063- 1404 Country=US/Result George Gallen Senior Programmer/Analyst Accounting/Data Division, EDI Administrator ggal...@wyanokegroup.com ph:856.848.9005 Ext 220 The Wyanoke Group http://www.wyanokegroup.com ___ U2-Users mailing list U2-Users@listserver.u2ug.org http://listserver.u2ug.org/mailman/listinfo/u2-users ___ U2-Users mailing list U2-Users@listserver.u2ug.org http://listserver.u2ug.org/mailman/listinfo/u2-users ___ U2-Users mailing list U2-Users@listserver.u2ug.org http://listserver.u2ug.org/mailman/listinfo/u2-users ___ U2-Users mailing list U2-Users@listserver.u2ug.org http://listserver.u2ug.org/mailman/listinfo/u2-users
Re: [U2] XML format question
Looking at the schema didn't shed any extra light either! -Original Message- From: u2-users-boun...@listserver.u2ug.org [mailto:u2-users- boun...@listserver.u2ug.org] On Behalf Of George Gallen Sent: Thursday, May 13, 2010 11:29 AM To: U2 Users List Subject: Re: [U2] XML format question since space concerns do not fall into place for my part, the xml has already been done, I had no control over that. I'm just trying to interpret the data correctly. -Original Message- From: u2-users-boun...@listserver.u2ug.org [mailto:u2-users- boun...@listserver.u2ug.org] On Behalf Of Norman Bauer Sent: Thursday, May 13, 2010 11:27 AM To: U2 Users List Subject: Re: [U2] XML format question If space is of concern then attributes take less room, but then again if space is of concern don't do xml, do json/csv/edi etc excellent advice. norm ___ U2-Users mailing list U2-Users@listserver.u2ug.org http://listserver.u2ug.org/mailman/listinfo/u2-users
Re: [U2] XML format question
I like to think of elements are as file folders. You can create a specific file folder for every tiny piece of data and make locating those pieces easy in a DOM based on node name. SAX, on the other hand, fires off events for every node and attribute it encounters at all levels. So, your format choice is a combination of considerations. The parser is one major thing if you're dealing with raw parsing, but if you are going to need validation then which design will be easier to write/manage an xsd for? If you aren't doing validation and the parsing method is irrelevant then the main thing to consider is readability. As Norman said earlier, an attribute-centric file will be smaller. Keep in mind, though, that attributes define properties of an element/node. They are not root nodes and therefore can not have child nodes. Therefore, no relative multi-value/nested data can be stored. The element, which said attribute is in, can have child nodes but those nodes inherit all of the parent's attributes at once. IMO, common data should be included as attributes to a root element or as elements within a container that is defined as a single, large entity by the container. Hopefully that makes sense? Glen Batchelor IT Director All-Spec Industries phone: (910) 332-0424 fax: (910) 763-5664 E-mail: webmas...@all-spec.com Web: http://www.all-spec.com Blog: http://blog.all-spec.com -Original Message- From: u2-users-boun...@listserver.u2ug.org [mailto:u2-users- boun...@listserver.u2ug.org] On Behalf Of Brian Leach Sent: Thursday, May 13, 2010 11:24 AM To: 'U2 Users List' Subject: Re: [U2] XML format question George So to paraphrase, when do you use attributes to hold data and when do you elements.. The problem is, there is no clear answer to this, and everyone who designs XML schema has to grapple with this question. The only simple answer is that if a value could legitimately have an attribute associated with it to qualify it, it should be an element. So in your example, the precision attribute is qualifying the type/content of the Latitude element. But that is really just a design and not a technical choice. The real answer is more pragmatic - it generally depends on what the consumer of that data wants. In parsing terms, attributes and elements are not the same so if the contract calls for an element, use an element; and if it calls for an attribute, use an attribute. It's a question I've asked lots of times and never really had a solid or consistent answer. Brian -Original Message- From: u2-users-boun...@listserver.u2ug.org [mailto:u2-users-boun...@listserver.u2ug.org] On Behalf Of George Gallen Sent: 13 May 2010 4:06 PM To: U2 Users List Subject: [U2] XML format question I'm importing some XML, and a question came up with the following: I'm writing a small xml extraction program to setup a dynamic array, what is the difference between putting a field inside the label vs putting the field between the tags of the label? Aren't they both a subset of the label? I always thought that if the field was a single value field, it would be quoted and inside the label, but if it could be a multivaled field, it would go between the field tags, with it's own field/tags. Result precision=addressLatitude39.931085/Latitude Longitude-77.387943/LongitudeAddress1001 N Some Rd/Address CitySomewhere/CityStatePA/StateZip15063- 1404/ZipCountryUS/Cou ntry /Result Could this have formatted just as well as: Resultprecisionaddress/precisionLatitude39.931085/Latitude Longitude-77.387943/LongitudeAddress1001 N Some Rd/Address CitySomewhere/CityStatePA/StateZip19063- 1404/ZipCountryUS/Cou ntry /Result or Result precision=address Latitude=39.931085 Longitude=-77.387943 Address=1001 N Some Rd City=Somewhere State=PA Zip=19063-1404 Country=US/Result George Gallen Senior Programmer/Analyst Accounting/Data Division, EDI Administrator ggal...@wyanokegroup.com ph:856.848.9005 Ext 220 The Wyanoke Group http://www.wyanokegroup.com ___ U2-Users mailing list U2-Users@listserver.u2ug.org http://listserver.u2ug.org/mailman/listinfo/u2-users No virus found in this incoming message. Checked by AVG - www.avg.com Version: 9.0.819 / Virus Database: 271.1.1/2870 - Release Date: 05/12/10 19:26:00 ___ U2-Users mailing list U2-Users@listserver.u2ug.org http://listserver.u2ug.org/mailman/listinfo/u2-users ___ U2-Users mailing list U2-Users@listserver.u2ug.org http://listserver.u2ug.org/mailman/listinfo/u2-users
Re: [U2] XML format question
George: If I understand your question, all you are trying to do is figure out how to get the value of the element attributes in an XML file you are receiving. If this is what you need to accomplish, the following is an example of a portion of an extract file that shows the format to do this. For a normal element like Money currency=USD285.72/Money it would be field_extraction field=DICTNAME1 path=Money/text()/ For an element with attributes like OrderRequestHeader orderDate=2010-04-13T09:35:27-0400 orderID=EW244267 type=new it would be field_extraction field=DICTNAME2 path=OrderRequestHeader/@orderID/ field_extraction field=DICTNAME3 path=OrderRequestHeader/@orderDate/ Note the use of the @ symbol and the lack of /text() on the end of the line. Hope that helps -- Carl Dula Voice: 973-227-8440 X111 Pulsar Systems, Inc.Fax: 973-227-8440 271 Route 46 West, Suite H209 email:c...@pulsarsystems.com Fairfield, NJ 07004-2474http://www.pulsarsystems.com ___ U2-Users mailing list U2-Users@listserver.u2ug.org http://listserver.u2ug.org/mailman/listinfo/u2-users
Re: [U2] XML format question
XML, as suggested, is a flexible container but I think that the pundits suggest that you use elements for data and attributes for metadata which is used to refine or modify the default behaviour of an element. For example: Money currency=aud12.99/Money Then if you needed to store or convert the currency in your application - you have the option to do so. In your example the Result is described by the precision attribute as an address and the address data is contained in nested elements within the Result element. Pretty logical (though the precision nomenclature seems weird). So, depending on how and where you want to use the result would determine how you convert it to a dynamic array. I'd probably just convert the XML into: a [U2]attribute for the precision and one each for the address elements. However, you could easily put the precision into one [U2]attribute and the address elements into another [U2]attribute as multi-values. It really depends on how and where you want to use the result. Stuart Boydell -Original Message- since space concerns do not fall into place for my part, the xml has already been done, I had no control over that. I'm just trying to interpret the data correctly. Result precision=addressLatitude39.931085/Latitude Longitude-77.387943/LongitudeAddress1001 N Some Rd/Address CitySomewhere/CityStatePA/StateZip15063- 1404/ZipCountryUS/Cou ntry /Result ___ U2-Users mailing list U2-Users@listserver.u2ug.org http://listserver.u2ug.org/mailman/listinfo/u2-users
