Re: Is XSLT a suitable solution for generating a diff

Cheers,
Geert

Charles, about a monthand-something ago a participant posted a simplistic algorithm that compared XML files. Under repeated fire from those who know better that XML differencing couldn't be done, shouldn't be done, should be written in Aramaic, should be done only when standing on 1 leg, et cetera, the algorithm was repeatedly revised, each time claiming a smaller applicable domain.

As they say, if the bumble bee knew anything about aerodynamics, it would never fly. Luckily for us it seems some other people, unaware of how XML diffs shouldn't be done, went ahead and created something that works. And another ng participant posted the link shortly after the mele above! I can't locate that post at the moment, but I believe it was: http://msdn.microsoft.com/library/default.asp?url=/library/en-us/dnxmlnet/html/xmldiffgui.asp


Regards,

--A

From: cknell@xxxxxxxxxx
Reply-To: xsl-list@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
To: xsl-list@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
Subject: Is XSLT a suitable solution for generating a diff between versions of a document?
Date: Sun, 08 May 2005 21:49:56 -0400

I have been considering a change management tool for comparing versions of an XML document. I have searched and haven't been able to find anything on point so I'm posting this question to the list. Given two versions of an XML document (say we are working with a document valid per a DTD or schema), is XSLT a suitable way of extracting the changes between versions of the document, and if so, can anyone show me a general method of writing a suitable stylesheet? Thanks.

--
Charles Knell
cknell@xxxxxxxxxx - email

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