[tdf-discuss] Re: Replace validate in XML Filter dialog with Open in Editor

2011-11-04 Thread Peter Jentsch
Hi Alex, 
On Tue, 25 Oct 2011 14:40:17 +0200, Alexander Thurgood wrote:

 Le 24/10/11 23:41, Peter Jentsch a écrit :
 
 Hi Peter,
 So I'd like to hear your opinions on that: is anyone using the
 validation button or at least theoretically sees some practical value
 to it, compared to offering to open the resulting XML in your favourite
 editor?
 
 
 The problem I see with that approach is that :
 
 - the favourite editor doesn't necessarily provide validation either, or
 maybe I'm just using the wrong ones ;-)
 
 - it would become dependent on the implementation specifics of the
 editor, but maybe people can live with that, after all, editing XML is
 not everyone's cup of tea anyway !!
 

You might use xml copy editor (http://xml-copy-editor.sourceforge.net/), 
which does validation and a bunch of other useful things, while being 
small simple and free. 


 My interest in something that just works is both personal and
 professional. In a professional capacity, I have to draft patent
 applications for online filing according to a internationally agreed
 standard :
 
 http://www.wipo.int/standards/en/xml_material/st36/
 
 At present, one of the organisations I work with, the EPO, makes
 available an XML-Form based application that enables users to create an
 patent application request, include content as part of the application
 by importing either XML files or via a Word document (which uses VBA
 macros to convert the structure of the Word document into valid XML),
 and then validate the whole thing against the relevant DTDs. The user in
 essence needs to know nothing about XML processing and validation, it is
 all transparently achieved for him/her.
 
 I was hoping to find some way to do this with LibO, and the XSLT export
 feature looked like a potential candidate to me. I have also started
 looking at the potential use of XForms from within LibO to produce a
 valid XML document that would allow me to either create a valid XML
 document for processing with the online filing software, or simply some
 valid XML file that I could import into the PatXML application, without
 the need of having to go through Word.
 
 I had hoped that the existing XSLT/XSD export/validation functionality
 within LibO could be used to that effect, but it would appear from your
 initial comment that this might actually be beyond LibO's current
 capabilities, hence the idea to farm this out to an external editor.

As long as the xml structure is not too complex, the XML filter might 
very well be used to do some XML / OpenDocument roundtrip editing. You 
might want to have a look at the docbook filters for inspiration.
 
 For my given situation, this validation could of course be carried out
 by PatXML, but unfortunately this is a Windows only solution, and I was
 hoping to be able to implement a platform independent one, hence the
 consideration of the LibO internal validation route.

The validation function in the XML filter editor dialog only aims at 
testing a new xml filter. The actual import/export doesn't do any 
validation currently. But in general, once you have your filter in good 
shape, you should be able to rely on it producing valid output. 
 
 I admit that this is probably a niche case, but nonetheless remains
 important for me. Unfortunately, I can not at present say whether the
 functionality within LibO would actually work for the scenario I am
 considering, so my comments may be completely moot.

+1 for interesting, moot or not.
 
 
 Alex

Cheers, 

Peter
 


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[tdf-discuss] Re: Replace validate in XML Filter dialog with Open in Editor

2011-10-25 Thread Alexander Thurgood
Le 24/10/11 23:41, Peter Jentsch a écrit :

Hi Peter,

 
 So I'd like to hear your opinions on that: is anyone using the validation 
 button or at least theoretically sees some practical value to it, 
 compared to offering to open the resulting XML in your favourite editor? 
 

The problem I see with that approach is that :

- the favourite editor doesn't necessarily provide validation either, or
maybe I'm just using the wrong ones ;-)

- it would become dependent on the implementation specifics of the
editor, but maybe people can live with that, after all, editing XML is
not everyone's cup of tea anyway !!

My interest in something that just works is both personal and
professional. In a professional capacity, I have to draft patent
applications for online filing according to a internationally agreed
standard :

http://www.wipo.int/standards/en/xml_material/st36/

At present, one of the organisations I work with, the EPO, makes
available an XML-Form based application that enables users to create an
patent application request, include content as part of the application
by importing either XML files or via a Word document (which uses VBA
macros to convert the structure of the Word document into valid XML),
and then validate the whole thing against the relevant DTDs. The user in
essence needs to know nothing about XML processing and validation, it is
all transparently achieved for him/her.

I was hoping to find some way to do this with LibO, and the XSLT export
feature looked like a potential candidate to me. I have also started
looking at the potential use of XForms from within LibO to produce a
valid XML document that would allow me to either create a valid XML
document for processing with the online filing software, or simply some
valid XML file that I could import into the PatXML application, without
the need of having to go through Word.

I had hoped that the existing XSLT/XSD export/validation functionality
within LibO could be used to that effect, but it would appear from your
initial comment that this might actually be beyond LibO's current
capabilities, hence the idea to farm this out to an external editor.

For my given situation, this validation could of course be carried out
by PatXML, but unfortunately this is a Windows only solution, and I was
hoping to be able to implement a platform independent one, hence the
consideration of the LibO internal validation route.

I admit that this is probably a niche case, but nonetheless remains
important for me. Unfortunately, I can not at present say whether the
functionality within LibO would actually work for the scenario I am
considering, so my comments may be completely moot.


Alex




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