Re: XML Zebra, a path-based tool for generating diff fingerprints forXML

["Anthony B. Coates \(XML-Dev\)" <abcoatesecure-xmldev@yahoo.co.uk>]

Hi Juerg.  Yes, it should be possible to do that. What I would do is use
the XML fingerprint file to create a stylesheet of which keeps content for
that version of the Schemas, and discards any other content.  I think this
is safer than trying just to prune off the new content.  It can also be
used no matter how many new minor versions you have.

At this point, I should mention that Ken Holman has already written code  
that generates this kind of stylesheet, by processing a set of XML  
Schemas, so you should probably talk to him, as what I have is half of the  
solution, while he has (I believe) a complete solution.

Cheers, Tony.

On Sun, 17 Jan 2010 18:47:05 -0000, DMS Lists <lists@d-m-s.co.nz> wrote:

> 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
UK: +44 (20) 8816 7700, US: +1 (239) 344 7700
Mobile/Cell: +44 (79) 0543 9026
Data standards participant: genericode, ISO 20022 (ISO 15022 XML),  
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