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RE: Data streams

• To: ian.graham@u...
• Subject: RE: Data streams
• From: "Stephen E. Beller" <sbeller@n...>
• Date: Tue, 07 Dec 2004 12:01:38 -0500
• Cc: xml-dev@l...
• Importance: Normal
• In-reply-to: <1102431025.41b5c331cf941@w...>
• Organization: NHDS, Inc.

Well, using the right tool for the right job certainly makes sense. When it
comes to handling text messages and non-numeric hierarchical associations,
XML can't be beat. The bloat associated with XML's handling of data arrays,
it seems to me, is one of the reasons for the recent backlash. 

Giving CSV those capabilities in a way that minimizes resource consumption
-- and yet enables users to experience a host of benefits (e.g., rapid
interactive rendering of data arrays offline) -- has a strong business case
in today's economic climate. 

Other benefits coming from the use of CSVs, which I haven't yet mentioned,
include virus-proofing and an exceptional encryption method not otherwise
possible.

Steve

-----Original Message-----
From: ian.graham@u... [mailto:ian.graham@u...] 
Sent: Tuesday, December 07, 2004 9:50 AM
To: Stephen E. Beller
Cc: 'Rick Marshall'; xml-dev@l...
Subject: RE:  Data streams

Quoting "Stephen E. Beller" <sbeller@n...>:
...
> 
> The trick is to give the CSV those capabilities in innovative ways,
without
> bloating it, and to use it in conjunction with (e.g., as a gateway to) XML
> when processing data arrays.

I think that "giving CSV those capabilities..." would be like reinventing
much
of XML.

On the other hand, if the data is numeric, regularly structured, and simple,

then why not use CSV?  XML isn't the best answer to all problems -- it's
just
flexible enough for almost all: good for some, and mediocre for others.

Which means you need to understand the problem well enough to identify an
appropriate solution. 

Ian

> -----Original Message-----
> From: Rick Marshall [mailto:rjm@z...] 
> Sent: Monday, December 06, 2004 7:12 PM
> To: Stephen E. Beller
> Cc: xml-dev@l...
> Subject: Re:  Data streams
> 
> all you've done is shown that the entropy of the xml file is 
> significantly lower than the csv file. that would mean it carries 
> significantly more information and as others have pointed out, when 
> inspecting the xml, this is indeed the case.
> 
> put another way the correct interpretation of your experiment is that 
> the ratio of the compressed file sizes points to a significant 
> difference in information content. the csv file and the xml file aren't 
> the same stuff.
> 
> rick
> 
> 
> 
> 
> 
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