Re: XML tools...

[mpriestl -at- ca -dot- ibm -dot- com]

"A. R. Goldman" wrote:

| I'm also interested in learning opinions about the various XML editors,
| converters, and other miscellaneous tools... My main platform is the
| Macintosh OS, and there is (as far as I can tell) very little XML
software
| available. I am planning on installing Linux soon, which should expand my
| possibilities...

Check out alphaworks (www.alphaworks.ibm.com). It has lots of free stuff
(free to evaluate anyway, usually free to use but not to resell), most of
it to do with XML, and most of it Java based. The screen cap for Xeena (an
XML editor) shows it running on the Mac.

In terms of Linux, also check out Corel's WordPerfect. I know they have a
package for Linux, and I know that the latest version of WP includes XML
editing functionality. I'm not entirely sure that the Linux version does,
but it's worth checking out.

In terms of editors, all the free ones I've seen (including Xeena) are data
oriented - good for editing application XML, lousy for editing
document-oriented XML. The best editor I've used myself is XMetal from
Softquad, but it ain't cheap.

Finally:

>I'm currently learning XML, and wondered if this technology is yet broadly
>used among technical writers...

The most commonly used DTD is, I believe, DocBook. It's primarily oriented
towards producing technical manuals. Check out oasis-open.org for more
details. It's been around in SGML form for years, but people are beginning
to use the XML version of it.

Other than that, there are groups using their own custom DTDs internally.
Tivoli presented at WinWriters recently about their XML format, and IBM
presented on their DITA architecture. The DITA architecture (including
DTDs, info on extending them, samples, and a supporting forum) is available
from www.ibm.com/developerworks/xml/library/x-dita1/index.html

Hope this helps - let me know if you have any questions.

Michael Priestley
mpriestl -at- ca -dot- ibm -dot- com
Dept 833 IBM Canada    t/l: 778-3233    phone: 416-448-3233
Toronto Information Development



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