RE: [xml-dev] XML Zebra, a path-based tool for generating diff fingerpri

["DMS Lists" <lists@d-m-s.co.nz>]

Hi Tony,

Without trying out the tool, I can see potential for it.

One particular scenario I am thinking of, but not certain whether it could be covered, is this:

Goal: Eliminate branches in an XML instance document which belong to a newer MINOR version than currently installed on the messaging server.

Example: The messaging server is on W3C schema A version 1.4, but receives a message based on schema A version 1.5 and processing is to be attempted.

If XML Zebra can identify all 1.5 specific additions (which by NDR definitions must be backward compatible with v1.4),
could XML Zebra output be used to generate a stylesheet specific for A version 1.4 which would trim out all 1.5 branches from an 1.5 instance document?

Such a generator could basically run for any minor versioned schema, generating a forward compatibility stylesheet for each minor schema version.

Cheers
Juerg

------------- 

Juerg Tschumperlin
 
Data Management Solutions,
Wellington, New Zealand
www.d-m-s.co.nz

>-----Original Message-----
>From: Anthony B. Coates (XML-Dev) [mailto:abcoatesecure-
>xmldev@yahoo.co.uk]
>Sent: Monday, 18 January 2010 5:17 a.m.
>To: xml-dev List
>Subject: [xml-dev] XML Zebra, a path-based tool for generating diff
>fingerprints for XML Schemas
>
>I have written a tool (in Scala) that can be used to check the
>differences
>between versions of a set of W3C XML Schemas.  The tool can be run with
>Scala, Java, or Apache Ant.  The idea is that for each version, you
>create
>a fingerprint file that contains paths (like XPaths, but with an
>extended
>syntax).  By comparing the two fingerprint files for two versions, you
>can
>see what has changed between the versions of the Schemas.  The tools
>makes
>use of the XMLBeans API for examining the structure of W3C XML Schemas.
>
>How does this differ from just doing diffs of the individual Schema
>files
>themselves?  The difference is that the path-based approach shows you
>not
>only what has changed, but also shows all of the places that are
>directly
>or indirectly impacted by the change.  Also, the path-based approach
>ignores restructurings that don't impact users, like renaming of Schema
>types or moving of definitions to a different Schema file.  Put another
>way, the path-based approach allows you to evaluate how the Schemas have
>changed from a user-impact perspective, rather than from a simple
>file-change perspective.
>
>The software is open source, released under the Apache licence.  For
>more
>details, and to download it, see
>
>http://www.xmlzebra.com/
>
>There will be a presentation about this software at the XML Prague 2010
>conference, 13-14 March.
>
>http://www.xmlprague.cz/2010/index.html
>
>Feedback would be very welcome.  Thanks,
>
>Cheers, Tony.
>--
>Anthony B. Coates
>Director and CTO
>Londata Ltd
>abcoates@londata.com
>UK: +44 (20) 8816 7700, US: +1 (239) 344 7700
>Mobile/Cell: +44 (79) 0543 9026
>Skype: abcoates
>Data standards participant: genericode, ISO 20022 (ISO 15022 XML),
>UN/CEFACT, MDDL, FpML, UBL.
>http://www.londata.com/
>
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