Hello All,
This is the first time I'm posting (I think).
Here at Social Development Canada, we produce massive XML files that we send
to some of our external clients. Previously, we sent them tapes with the
same data in flat files.
The clients send us schemas so we can make sure that our files have all the
required data and that all the data is valid.
At present, we download our XML files and parse them on our PC's using a SAX
parser that I wrote using Visual Basic 6. It is dreadfully slow and
apparently has architecture problems that cannot be overcome. It parses
using utilities that are part of the Windows operating system.
I've looked and looked and seen nothing resembling parser that we could use.
Natural has some XML functionality, but can only work with DTD's instead of
Schema files.
Cobol has a wonderful PARSE statement, but needs you to build in all the
rules. This would be time-consuming and dreadfully error-prone. Also, we'd
get to do it several times a year since we get revised schemas.
PL/I has some parsing functionality but is limited to checking that a
document is well-formed.
EasyTrieve apparently has some XML functionality, but it seems it can only
build XML files, not parse them.
I've begun exploring the XML functionality in the Z/OS toolkit but it
involves Unix and C++. While I am knowledgeable on both, I'm not sure that
it can handle Schema files or if it would do what we need it to do.
Also, few people around here besides me know Unix and C++.
I've also explored Canam's XML Thunder product, but it produces a Cobol
program that's too big to compile.
Right now, we'll be getting Visual Studio .net which I'm told can produce a
really fast parser.
I've contacted IBM and they say they are working on XML utilities but they
won't be available any time soon.
Perhaps there's nothing available. I would just like to know if that's the case.
Thanks for your time.
Regards,
Eric Verwijs
Programmer Analyst
OAS Mission Critical Systems
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