advertisement
javaboutique
Search Tips
Articles  |   Tutorials  |   Reviews  |   Tools  |   by Category  |   by Date  |   by Name  |   Submit  |   Source  |   Forums  |  
javaboutique
Browse DevX


Partners & Affiliates











advertisement

Tutorials : Java and XML: putting SAX to work :

Contents
Why use XML?
Reading an XML file
Putting SAX to work
A complete event handler program for SAX
Sorting the data

Java and XML: putting SAX to work

by Keld H. Hansen

Why use XML?

XML is becoming increasingly popular. Why is that? After all XML is just a data format, isn't it? To get an understanding of XML's popularity, take a look at this file:

458345-3456,4367.12,6.5
436122-3456,18.30,5
419023-4523,-43218.45,9.5  

What do you think it is? Let's take another file--with the same numbers:

<banking>
<account>
  <number>458345-3456</number>
  <balance>4367.12</balance>
  <interest>6.5</interest>
</account>
<account>
  <number>436122-3456</number>
  <balance>18.30</balance>
  <interest>5</interest>
</account>
<account>
  <number>419023-4523</number>
  <balance>-43218.45</balance>
  <interest>9.5</interest>
</account>
</banking>

Suddenly the numbers make more sense, right? So XML is not just a data format, it may also add some kind of information to your data. You might argue that these files are probably read by a computer program, which really doesn't prefer one format over the other, and you'll of course need to know what "number", "balance", and "interest" really mean in order to use the data in a real application. You're right, but programmers still use a lot of time looking at data files--especially when their programs aren't working--and most humans would prefer the last file format.

But the real power in XML is that it is a standardized format. If you give the above XML-file to Internet Explorer for example it'll actually understand it and show it in a nice format:

In the olden days when computing was done on mainframes (if you don't know what a mainframe is then just think of it as a very large server), every program used its own hand-made file formats--often for good reasons. If you compare the sizes of the two files above then the second one contains more than four times as many characters as the first one. If you have slow network connections and expensive storage medias then a factor four means a lot. Numbers can also be packed much more economically in binary formats. For example four bytes for a Java "int" compared with up to ten bytes when the number is in text format.

But today disk storage is cheap, and networks are fast, so unless you have very large data amounts you can afford the XML-format. Again, the important factor which makes XML a good choice is its standardized format. Especially when one considers the nature of the vast global communication network we have today--which includes an array of computer brands and multiple geographical dialects--it becomes imperative to have a common language/method to tie everything together or to allow that communication. Thus, XML simplifies the client-server world we live in.

But without backup from users and vendors no standard will survive. XML is backed by lots of tools, API's, and committees.

We'll start our journey into the XML world by solving a simple task.

Contents:

Reading an XML file
Putting SAX to work
A DVD class
A complete event handler program for SAX
Sorting the data
Presenting the results in a browser
Conclusion
Resources

 

How to Add Java Applets to Your Site

New on the Java Boutique:

New Review:

Time Management Made Easy with the Quartz Enterprise Job Scheduler
Why not just use the Java timer API? This open source scheduling API boasts simplicity, ease-of-integration, a well-rounded feature set, and it's free!

New Applet:

Reverse Complement
Reverse Complement is a simple applet that converts DNA or RNA sequences into three useful formats.

Elsewhere on internet.com:

WebDeveloper Java
Lots of Java information on webdeveloper.com

WDVL Java
Thorough Java resource at the Web Developer's Virtual Library.

ScriptSearch Java
Hundreds of free Java code files to download.

jGuru: Your View of the Java Universe
Customizable portal with online training, FAQs, regular news updates, and tutorials.

 Intel Go Parallel Portal
 Internet.com eBook Library
 IBM Software Construction Toolbox
 Microsoft RIA Development Center
 Destination .NET
XML error: not well-formed (invalid token) at line 43
advertisement
Receive Articles via our XML/RSS feed
Receive Articles via our XML/RSS feed

JavaBytes
Internet Cyclone
This powerful, easy-to-use, internet optimizer is for Windows 95, 98, ME, NT, 2000 and XP. It's designed to automatically optimize your Windows settings, boosting your Internet connection up to 200%.

Google Hopes Chrome Will Help, Not Hurt Firefox
Remember Figlets? They're Back With Zend
Microsoft Readies an App Store Competitor?
Google: Chrome Browser Will Make Money
Sam Ramji: Microsoft's Man in Open Source
Google to Shake Up Browsers With Own Launch
Mozilla's Ubquity Mashup: For The Masses?
iPhone Users Just Want to Have Fun
Oops! I Fixed the Linux Kernel
Jim Zemlin: The New Center of Linux Gravity

Code Around C#'s Using Statement to Release Unmanaged Resources
Writing Functional Code with RDFa
BitLocker Brings Encryption to Windows Server 2008
Network Know-How: Exploring Network Algorithms
Create a Durable and Reliable WCF Service with MSMQ 4.0
The Baker's Dozen: 13 Tips for SQL Server 2008 and SSRS 2008
Book Excerpt: Microsoft Expression Blend Unleashed
Develop a Mobile RSS Feed the Easy Way
State of the Semantic Web: Know Where to Look
A 3D Exploration of the HTML Canvas Element

Advertising Info  |   Member Services  |   Contact Us  |   Help  |   Feedback  |   Site Map  |   Network Map  |   About



JupiterOnlineMedia

internet.comearthweb.comDevx.commediabistro.comGraphics.com

Search:

Jupitermedia Corporation has two divisions: Jupiterimages and JupiterOnlineMedia

Jupitermedia Corporate Info


Legal Notices, Licensing, Reprints, & Permissions, Privacy Policy.

Advertise | Newsletters | Tech Jobs | Shopping | E-mail Offers

Solutions
Whitepapers and eBooks
Intel PDF: Virtualization Delivers Data Center Efficiency
Intel eBook: Managing the Evolving Data Center
Microsoft Article: BitLocker Brings Encryption to Windows Server 2008
Symantec eBook: The Guide to E-Mail Archiving and Management
Microsoft Article: RODCs Transform Branch Office Security
Go Parallel Article: James Reinders on the Intel Parallel Studio Beta Program
Avaya Article: Advancing the State of the Art in Customer Service
Adobe Acrobat Connect Pro: Web Conferencing and eLearning Whitepapers
Avaya Article: Avaya AE Services Provide Rapid Telephony Integration with Facebook
Go Parallel Article: Getting Started with TBB on Windows
HP eBook: Storage Networking , Part 1
MORE WHITEPAPERS, EBOOKS, AND ARTICLES
Webcasts
Intel Seminar: Efficiencies in Hardware/Software Virtualization
HP Webcast: Disaster Recovery Planning
Go Parallel Video: Performance and Threading Tools for Game Developers
HP Video: StorageWorks EVA4400 and Oracle
HP Webcast: Storage Is Changing Fast - Be Ready or Be Left Behind
MORE WEBCASTS, PODCASTS, AND VIDEOS
Downloads and eKits
IBM TCO eKIT: Your IT Budget is Under Attack, Get in Control
IBM Energy Efficiency eKIT: Learn How to Reduce Costs
30-Day Trial: SPAMfighter Exchange Module
Red Gate Download: SQL Toolbelt and free High-Performance SQL Code eBook
Iron Speed Designer Application Generator
MORE DOWNLOADS, EKITS, AND FREE TRIALS
Tutorials and Demos
Microsoft Article: Silverlight Streaming--Free Video Hosting for All
Featured Algorithm: Intel Threading Building Blocks - parallel_reduce
HP Demo: StorageWorks EVA4400
MORE TUTORIALS, DEMOS AND STEP-BY-STEP GUIDES