Re: Use of XML for config files

[Darren New <dnew@san.rr.com>]

Georg Bauhaus wrote:
> No I wouldn't, not in all cases. At least I wouldn't where a grammar
> allows me to require dependency checked data.

I don't think DTDs allow you to say things like certain values must be
within certain ranges, etc. If DTDs were that powerful, I'd start to agree
with you.

> : Of course, a simple example would suffice.
> 
> A simple example (not for number addition in XML, of course)
> is that a child element can be required by the DTD
> or an attribute value must be present (again required by the
> DTD) with a value of either "yes" or "no".

Well, yes. But I meant something more complex, since I don't think anyone
wants to teach their users XML DTD syntax to explain that this has to be
"yes" or "no." For example, you can't say "the value of this field must be a
dotted-quad IPv4 address" with a DTD. Even so, anything you describe in a
DTD you'll also have to describe in prose documentation, plus I don't think
any of the existing Ada XML libraries will validate against a DTD, will
they?

-- 
Darren New 
San Diego, CA, USA (PST). Cryptokeys on demand.
** http://home.san.rr.com/dnew/DNResume.html **
** http://images.fbrtech.com/dnew/ **

     My brain needs a "back" button so I can
         remember where I left my coffee mug.