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I
disagree, there is a standard for data type definition (i.e DTD). In fact,
I've done A LOT of work with it. However, I agree that the Schema standard
(not necessarily XSD) will provide further ability to define fields.
Also, I see XML as a
great format for new companies to use for internal data storage and older,
established, companies will use it for doing business with multiple other
companies (and their established formats). Will XML replace any
format? Not Likely. Will it become the new standard for internal
data storage? Very likely.
Brian
Curtis
I think one of the primary areas that still needs to be
settled on the XML side is the issue of a schema definition language.
Until XSD becomes formally adopted, there is no standard for data type
definition, one of the critical aspects of any B2B site. Instead, we develop
all of these ad hoc solutions that will just fragment the existing set of
work.
Secondarily, I think that you need to see a little more
maturation on the part of XSLT developers. I see XSLT as an integral part of
any solution, but currently the number of people that "grok" this way of
thinking is still relatively small. That'll change -- we're kind of at
the point right now where we were with C++ in the early days of OOP, where
there was a lot of interest but the methodologies were still strongly driven
by older structural programming paradigms.
Finally, I think that it is important for the discussion
to realize that X12 can be subsumed into the XML space, rather than XML
being a replacement technology, and that the principle advantage to XML is
that it is an OPEN data standard. This isn't a technological issue, but rather
a political one, and as such doesn't necessarily lend itself to being solved
with finality.
-- Kurt
----- Original Message -----
Sent: Sunday, July 30, 2000 10:33
AM
Subject: The Value and Use of XML
Now that we've gotten all
of the VAN bashing and toilet-bowl humor and comments out of the way for a
while (well, we did need a bit of
comic relief, didn't we!) I
would like to see the discussion on this list move away from X12 vs XML (or EDI vs XML) and VAN bashing to
where can XML play a role, how can it do that, and of course, what's
required for XML to deliver on all of the expectations. As I've said, XML
still has a lot of maturing to do in order to be fully functional and robust
for industrial prime-time use. These are the issues that we could be focusing on.
Rachel
Rachel Foerster
Principal
Rachel Foerster
& Associates
Professionals in EDI & Electronic
Commerce
39432 North Avenue
Beach Park, IL
60099-3602
Voice: 847-872-8070
Fax: 847-872-6860
http://www.rfa-edi.com
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