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Re: XML-appropriate editing data structures

• To: "Jeff Rafter" <lists@j...>,"Elliotte Rusty Harold" <elharo@m...>
• Subject: Re: XML-appropriate editing data structures
• From: "Jeff Greif" <jgreif@a...>
• Date: Thu, 8 Apr 2004 17:08:23 -0700
• Cc: <xml-dev@l...>
• References: <000601c41cf4$0e7fa1e0$6800a8c0@bagpeddlerjlake> <407491E5.4080101@w...> <4074B416.1030807@o...> <p0601020bbc9ac4a5288f@[192.168.254.88]> <4075451B.9050802@c...> <p06010215bc9b37ad2f56@[192.168.254.88]> <4075986D.9080507@o...> <p0601021cbc9b8be6f925@[192.168.254.88]> <011a01c41dc1$2cd8b5f0$6403a8c0@ARIMATHEA> <p0601021ebc9b9345b475@[192.168.254.88]>

----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Elliotte Rusty Harold" <elharo@m...>
To: "Jeff Rafter" <lists@j...>
Cc: <xml-dev@l...>
Sent: Thursday, April 08, 2004 4:46 PM
Subject: Re:  XML-appropriate editing data structures


> Because it is very common to need to create, either temporarily or
> permanently, invalid content. For instance, when I was writing
> Processing XML with Java in DocBook I typed many xinclude:include
> elements that were not provided for by the DocBook DTD.  In other
> cases I've added custom elements and attributes that are not supplied
> by the DTD.
>
> And in other cases, I do want valid markup. I just don't want it yet.
> I'm not ready to fill in everything that's required. For instance, I
> might begin a book by typing out an outline as section titles,
> without actually giving the sections any content, though that is
> ultimately required. But I can probably put together an outline in
> day, even though filling in the content may take a year, as long as
> the editor doesn't keep bugging me about the missing parts.
>
> I've tried editors that attempt to maintain validity. And they're
> just bloody annoying. Even if you want valid markup, they're either
> pestering you with pop-ups; or  filling in what they think you'll add
> and guessing wrong. (There's often more than one possible child
> element that can be added to make a parent element valid.) Bottom
> line: they get in your way. They are not smart enough to figure out
> what needs to be done, but they do something anyway.

I've been very pleased with James Clark's nxml-mode for emacs.  Its
syntax-coloring marks invalid places, but it does not fill in content
automatically.  The only 'electric' feature I use is autocompletion when you
type '</' to complete the current element.  And it's *very* fast, including
whatever validation you allow.
Jeff

• References:
  • Converting xml to csv with xslt
    • From: "Jerry Lake" <jerry@b...>
  • Re: Converting xml to csv with xslt
    • From: Mike Fitzgerald <mikefz@w...>
  • XML-appropriate editing data structures
    • From: Bob Foster <bob@o...>
  • Re: XML-appropriate editing data structures
    • From: Elliotte Rusty Harold <elharo@m...>
  • Re: XML-appropriate editing data structures
    • From: Mark Schmeets <mark@c...>
  • Re: XML-appropriate editing data structures
    • From: Elliotte Rusty Harold <elharo@m...>
  • Re: XML-appropriate editing data structures
    • From: Bob Foster <bob@o...>
  • Re: XML-appropriate editing data structures
    • From: Elliotte Rusty Harold <elharo@m...>
  • Re: XML-appropriate editing data structures
    • From: "Jeff Rafter" <lists@j...>
  • Re: XML-appropriate editing data structures
    • From: Elliotte Rusty Harold <elharo@m...>

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