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="address"><Latitude>39.931085</Latitude> <Longitude>-77.387943</Longitude><Address>1001 N Some Rd</Address> <City>Somewhere</City><State>PA</State><Zip>15063-1404</Zip><Country>US</Cou ntry> </Result> Could this have formatted just as well as: <Result><precision>address</precision><Latitude>39.931085</Latitude> <Longitude>-77.387943</Longitude><Address>1001 N Some Rd</Address> <City>Somewhere</City><State>PA</State><Zip>19063-1404</Zip><Country>US</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
