EPAR

EPAR

Abstract:

EPAR, a visual XML editor, is a generic Java application for editing valid XML documents derived from any valid DTD. XML files can be created and edited without learning the intricacies of XML. The editor takes as input a given DTD and automatically builds a palette containing the elements defined in the DTD. Any document derived from that DTD by using a visual, tree-directed paradigm can thus be created, edited, or expanded. The visual paradigm requires only a minimal learning curve, because only valid constructs or elements are presented to the user in a context-sensitive palette.

EPAR  is a Java application built on top of Swing and XML Parser for Java. The XML attributes of the elements are edited via a table. Each attribute value is entered using an editing GUI component (such as a combo box or text field), which is also derived from the DTD. The editor guides the user in inserting elements into the tree in the correct order (according to the DTD) by making the elements palette-sensitive to the current selected tree node and by not allowing insertion of elements in an invalid order.

The editor is a Multiple Document Interface application (MDI) with full fledged support for editing multiple XML documents and for copying, cutting, and pasting from one document into another. Java-based, and thus cross-platform EPAR  has been reported to work on Windowsnt\95\98\2000.Drag-and-drop of nodes in and between files. Unlimited undo. Multiple views on one file. Evaluation of XPath expressions. This is useful for searching nodes, but also as an XPath learning and experimenting tool. Customizability through XML parsers. Schema support, from DTD through XML. EPAR  also has its own simple schema language.  EPAR  for Java is a tool for assisting in migration from a content editing environment and e-business environment. EPAR  for Java provides a Java XML that simulates the EPAR  editor in a modern e-business environment.  EPAR  for Java supports all the traditional editing commands of EPAR , as well as some enhancements such as “cut-and-paste” and “cancel” features and the full Unicode character set. Because the EPAR  editing is line-oriented, EPAR  for Java also treats documents as an array of lines and provides the block-edit commands, handles cursor movements, and extends the EPAR  editing with some modern editing When EPAR   opens a file, it will strip all text nodes that consist of only whitespace (spaces, tabs, newlines). Otherwise a lot of white boxes would be displayed in the tree for these nodes.

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