Jade FM Design

Technical specifications: Site Upgrade Plan Using XML

XML is short for eXtensible Markup Language, it places simple codes around a piece of data to describe that data. It is readable by humans and my computers. HTML is short for Hypertext Markup Language, it places slightly more complex codes around a piece of data to describe how the data should be presented, like type, font, size etc. (W3Schools.com, 2013)

Using XML makes sense, when changing, importing or formatting large amounts of data is needed. To use an information professionals perspective and analogy, XML helps store and retrieve the data in a library collection, so that it is readable and uploadable in any format required, irrespective of the software or front end program. Essentially it simplifies data storage and sharing. (W3Schools.com, 2013)

XML and how it interfaces with HTML and the advantages

Using the information professionals analogy again, displaying dynamic or interesting data in an HTML document, like a library homepage, or adding continuously changing photographs or statistics or user information, is time consuming and complicated to keep editing the HTML every time this data is changed. Using XML, allows the website designer the ability to store data files in a separate XML file. This works well in a changing/dynamic environment like a library, as the format - the HTML or CSS which focuses well on the layouts, formats, fonts, colours etc. can remain unchanged, whereas the library staff member can change the XML file as often as they like, this will not effect the HTML with a little help from some JavaScript code. (Kyrnin, 2013)

XML and how it interfaces with HTML and the disadvantages

Time, preparation and language programming are the biggest disadvantages to using XML files in conjunction with HTML. HTML5 and CSS allow an inexperienced website designer the ability to create, without having any real knowledge of the background code. XML assumes database knowledge and custom tag writing knowledge. The codes DTD or Document Type Definition are not that complex, but how they work alongside HTML or how they import into an HTML document need to be understood to run properly. Any code mistakes will stop the processing of the whole document, unlike HTML. (Quin, 2013)

Implementing changes to this website

XML implementation can be applied to any part of this website involving the continuous importing of new data. Reading about XML and image import is particularly relevant, as this website is the owner of large image datafiles. These files will grow with the constant growth of art, design, photomedia and modelling contracts the owner creates and is involved in. This website essentially becomes a storage or archival space for all these visual files. The majority of the pages are static, however the Portfolio Pages: art & design, photomedia, digital arts & modelling could all benefit from XML files of image content. (Banas, 2011)

A trial page of an XML file uploaded. It is complex to achieve, but once the programming language is established, I think it would be an easier process to maintain.

The XML tags that are used to describe the contents of these image thumbnail files may look like this:

References

Banas, D. (2010). Learn XML Tutorial Part 1. Retrieved from Youtube: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qgZVAznwX38

Kyrnin, J. (2013). XML has many uses. Retrieved from about.com: http://webdesign.about.com/od/xml/a/aa060401a.htm

Quin, L.R.E. (2013). XML Essentials. Retrieved from W3C: http://www.w3.org/standards/xml/core

W3schools. (2013). How can XML be used? Retrieved from w3schools.http://www.w3schools.com/xml/xml_usedfor.asp

Technical specifications: Site Upgrade Plan Using XML

Tech specs site upgrade plan