About a year ago, I started using XML instead of an INI file for everything except very simple files. There are many advantages to XML. Here is a quick list of what made me switch:
1. You can create lists much easier. No need to give fake value key names just to loop through items. 2. They are much more maintainable. The hierarchy of an XML file allows you to group similar items together. 3. The Delphi XML databinding wizard allows you to map to an XML file easily using code. Get compile time errors instead of run time error. 4. I now do a lot of .NET programming and XML transitioned easily. 5. Using and XML file as a database in .NET is super easy. There are lots of benefits, but my main reason is the organization of an xml file that does not exist in an INI file. -----Original Message----- From: [EMAIL PROTECTED] [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] On Behalf Of Robert Meek Sent: Friday, March 25, 2005 9:45 AM To: [email protected] Subject: B. Swart's article on ini-file based dB's I'm finally catching up on some of my back reading and came across an article on using ini-files as dB's for cross-platform compatibility in the Feb issue of The Delphi Mag. I had done something like this as an alternative to using the TClientDataSet to create a flat-file system a couple years ago, although my reasons were quite different. For me it was simply a matter of overhead and manual editing...I wasn't deploying it across other OS's. It worked quite well and was more than fast enough for my needs at the time, however I've always thought that xml would be a much better choice for something like this. So I'm curious...has anyone done things like this using xml...Dr. Bob or otherwise...and if so why did you select xml over an ini-file? >From "Robert Meek" Personal e-mail: [EMAIL PROTECTED] dba / "Tangentals Design" Visit us at: www.TangentalsDesign.com Home of "The Keep"! Member of: "Association of Shareware Professionals" Moderator for: "The Delphi", "Delphi-DB", and "Delphi-Talk" programming lists at elists.org, and "DelphiTalk.net" at www.DelphiTalk.net __________________________________________________ Delphi-Talk mailing list -> [email protected] http://www.elists.org/mailman/listinfo/delphi-talk __________________________________________________ Delphi-Talk mailing list -> [email protected] http://www.elists.org/mailman/listinfo/delphi-talk
