Re: Use of XML for config files

[Georg Bauhaus <sb463ba@l1-hrz.uni-duisburg.de>]

Darren New <dnew@san.rr.com> wrote:
: 
: I suspect it's so obvious to you how you'd use something like this that some
: of us appear very dense or blind or something.

Please, not at all, in fact (as always, no?) you have reminded me of some
things to consider.

: you haven't said just what it is you couldn't implement with a format less
: complex than XML. That's what I'm looking for.

Point is that personally I am fine with a complex format
or a less complex format. What's bothering me is not so much what
can be implemented in either format _for Config_Files.ads_, or how the
application programmer would use the subprograms, but it is that the
configuration process consists of more than an API, a file format,
and text editors. How can I improve the "human aspect" of configuration
processes using what is available with some file format?
(my reply to Stephen has a few words on this, I hope)
The current API has dotted notation. That's a very clear,
powerful and manageable thing from an application's point
of view, Stephen has working software for property files and
XML files. I have nothing
to complain here. If you can say that dotted notation in the
config file _itself_ is likely not a problem at all for your usual
configuration personnel, then don't weigh my words too much,
maybe my needs are too far reaching for the average Ada
application (or way off :).

-- Georg