XML architectures [was Re: [xsl] xsl:sort in old MSXML]

[Wendell Piez <wapiez@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>]

At 12:01 PM 7/2/2003, Olivier wrote:
> Maybe Claudio need to transform XML data island embedded in HTML files.
>
> Just a guess.

Be warned, however, that this approach *is* proprietary ... pioneered at MS 
and implemented in no one else's browser....

Claudio, it might also help to see that in the three approaches mentioned 
so far:

batch transform
server-side (dynamic) transform
client-side transform

the underlying architecture is the same.

XML --> transform --> formatted output (HTML, PDF, whatever)

The differences are in *where* and *when* the middle piece happens.

A batch model (do all the processing on your home system ahead of time; all 
the world sees a traditional HTML site) is the most "primitive" but most 
stable, dependable and scalable. Server-side solutions are more and more 
available, work quite well, and can support some kinds of interaction 
impossible in the batch model; but they do require special software on the 
server. (In the batch model you run your transformations outside of the web 
server, as David has described.) Client-side solutions are appealing in 
theory, but slow to materialize in the market, especially in a 
browser-independent form -- partly because they require special software on 
the client.

XML "data islands" use quite a different architecture ... they wrap a 
client-side transform in a JScript/VB scripted HTML package, and deliver 
that. They work only in MSIE (to my knowledge).

It's a pity we didn't rename this thread. How will we ever find it?

Cheers,
Wendell



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Wendell Piez                            mailto:wapiez@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
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