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

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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