Hi Chris, I am a bit baffled at the range of replies and alternatives that you have been offered. A file being written in XML does not indicate in any way what the content of the file is or how it should be handled. It is really the equivalent of say the file is in clear text or ASCII. Two applications that both import and export XML will more than likely have nothing in common with each other. Also opening an XML file in an editor and reading it, while instructive is similar to extracting the text from a piece of software so you can get a vague idea of what the program does.
I am not sure if I am stating the obvious here so forgive me if I am telling things you already know, but software has complete freedom in the tags and content of an XML file in the same way that binary data can be in any format. Both MicrosoftWord and say MYOB accounting software write data files but they are incompatible and cannot be interchanged. To read an XML file, unless it has been deliberately put in a standardised format, you need the original program that wrote the file, or a program that deliberately uses the same XML format as the originating software. In your case, if you want to reconstruct the database, unless the XML has deliberately been structured to be compatible with some other piece of software, you will need the original database software. The above was written quickly as I have to rush of to do other things right now, but if you need clarification please write back. Cheers, Carlo On 27/02/2012, at 9:20 , Chris Burton wrote: > Hi Guys > > Many thanks for the replies on this; I had no idea that this presents such a > range of issues. I can give you some background: > > The .xml file is the result of an export from a database run only on Windows > machines. It was ( and still is being developed) by IT people at the > Antarctic Division, and is a requirement by the Federal Gov to be completed > while undertaking marine mammal observations during offshore seismic > operations. > > We have to complete this database daily with a huge amount of info from > environmental, operational and sighting effort and cetacean observations. It > is a pain in the neck to be frank as I am used to the elegant simplicity of > Filemaker Pro!! > > It is also one of the reasons I bought Parallels 6 this time last year so I > could run it on my MBPro. Unfortunately after spending many days I was unable > transfer my Bootcamp partition over to Parallels (to use my GIS as well as > this Database), so have to use a windows machine while working on the ship. A > real bummer. > > However I would like to try again to install Parallels during the coming > weeks to get the bootcamp over so I can then install this Database. I have > heard that Parallels 7 is now out; is there much difference from Version 6? > > Thanks to all for your offers and advice on other programs to use. I will try > them and do have filemaker as well. I guess it is my lack of knowledge on > what .xml is and not having to use it before that has stumped me. > > I have tried importing the file using both Textedit and Excel 11, but the > format that is presented once loaded just doesnt look right (based on what > the data looks like in this database)? > > Just tried with FMPro 11 and it shows a box asking me to 'specify an xml data > source'. Now this is where Im stumped!! > > I have asked the person who exported the file to try exporting in another > format, if available. > > Many thanks to all, I very much appreciate your time and input > > Kind regards > > Chris > > > > > Christopher L.K. Burton > Director > Western Whale Research > PO Box 1076 > Dunsborough WA 6281 > Mobile: 0419 199 120 > Email: [email protected] > > On 26/02/2012, at 9:16 PM, Ray Forma wrote: > >> Chris, >> >> You supply very little useful information, so it is not possible to give you >> much useful advice. >> >> 1 Does the file have an extension? If so, what is the extension? If you have >> extensions hidden as a MacOS Preference, you can find the extension using >> Get Info from the Finder's File menu. >> >> 2 Have you tried opening the file with TextEdit? If this works then amongst >> the gibberish you sometimes get a hint as to what type of file it is, and >> therefore what type of application may be able to open it. >> >> 3 Try the Finder's Open with, and then choose Other… as the application. >> Then, at the bottom of the Choose Application window change the Enable: >> choice from Recommended Applications to Enable: All Applications. Then >> choose a likely application and see what happens. Keep trying different apps. >> >> 4 Knowing what the originating app was would also be useful, even if it came >> from a Windows machine. >> >> On 26/02/2012, at 7:00 PM, Chris Burton wrote: >> >>> Good afternoon muggers >>> >>> I have received an xml file from a collegue of mine (a result of an export >>> from a database) and I cant open it with the applications that show up when >>> 'open with' is applied. >>> >>> Can someone please point me in the direction of an application and/or >>> utility that I can use to open it? >>> >>> Thanks very much for any advice on this >>> >>> Best regards >>> >>> Chris >>> >>> >>> Christopher L.K. Burton >>> Director >>> Western Whale Research >>> PO Box 1076 >>> Dunsborough WA 6281 >>> Mobile: 0419 199 120 >>> Email: [email protected] >>> >>> -- The WA Macintosh User Group Mailing List -- >>> Archives - <http://www.wamug.org.au/mailinglist/archives.shtml> >>> Guidelines - <http://www.wamug.org.au/mailinglist/guidelines.shtml> >>> Settings & Unsubscribe - >>> <http://lists.wamug.org.au/listinfo/wamug.org.au-wamug> >> >> Regards, >> >> Ray Forma >> 50 Harvest Road, North Fremantle WA 6159, Australia >> Tel +61 (0) 8 9335 6568 >> Mob +61 (0) 428 596938 >> >> -- The WA Macintosh User Group Mailing List -- >> Archives - <http://www.wamug.org.au/mailinglist/archives.shtml> >> Guidelines - <http://www.wamug.org.au/mailinglist/guidelines.shtml> >> Settings & Unsubscribe - >> <http://lists.wamug.org.au/listinfo/wamug.org.au-wamug> > > -- The WA Macintosh User Group Mailing List -- > Archives - <http://www.wamug.org.au/mailinglist/archives.shtml> > Guidelines - <http://www.wamug.org.au/mailinglist/guidelines.shtml> > Settings & Unsubscribe - > <http://lists.wamug.org.au/listinfo/wamug.org.au-wamug> -- The WA Macintosh User Group Mailing List -- Archives - <http://www.wamug.org.au/mailinglist/archives.shtml> Guidelines - <http://www.wamug.org.au/mailinglist/guidelines.shtml> Settings & Unsubscribe - <http://lists.wamug.org.au/listinfo/wamug.org.au-wamug>
