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make a db appear as an xml file?
- Thread starter jez
- Start date
- Thread starter
- #3
No, that is exactly NOT what i want to do. 
There is an application that uses an XML file.
I want to replace that xml file with a database, but leave the application thinking that it is just using the same xml file.
I have done some more research and it seems i need to use some form of database view.
There is an application that uses an XML file.
I want to replace that xml file with a database, but leave the application thinking that it is just using the same xml file.
I have done some more research and it seems i need to use some form of database view.
- Thread starter
- #5
SQLite, and no i cannot modify the application (without getting into legal trouble - its an apple app).
But... the xml is a very standard xml file, it is an Apple Plist format, which is used throughout Apple applications to store preferences and data.
I dont think it will be too difficult to make a symlink file to the database interface so the app would see the expected xml file. The tricky bit (from my point of view) is designing a view that is like an xml file.
I am currently reading up on xml databases, rather than xml enabled databases.
But... the xml is a very standard xml file, it is an Apple Plist format, which is used throughout Apple applications to store preferences and data.
I dont think it will be too difficult to make a symlink file to the database interface so the app would see the expected xml file. The tricky bit (from my point of view) is designing a view that is like an xml file.
I am currently reading up on xml databases, rather than xml enabled databases.
- Thread starter
- #7
Well, i guess sharing the plan is not a problem... basically i find iTunes stops being efficient after you pass about 5000 tunes (or records).
Initially i wrote a perl script to find duplicates by checksum of the files. To make that work well i added sqlite, mainly to try it out and to use database comparison techniques on a large dataset.
Now i have an sqlite db with all the data about my music collection in it, along with checksums of each file.
I figured it would be cool if i could make iTunes use my database instead of it's own pList xml file.
I will certainly post any success i have (and since it will be mostly based on open source code) i will likely make it available to others.
Thanks for your input, much appreciated.
Initially i wrote a perl script to find duplicates by checksum of the files. To make that work well i added sqlite, mainly to try it out and to use database comparison techniques on a large dataset.
Now i have an sqlite db with all the data about my music collection in it, along with checksums of each file.
I figured it would be cool if i could make iTunes use my database instead of it's own pList xml file.
I will certainly post any success i have (and since it will be mostly based on open source code) i will likely make it available to others.
Thanks for your input, much appreciated.
- Thread starter
- #9
Yes i think you might be right... I could do it that way initially to show the idea and then maybe get some help with the interface bit.
The main reason i have against the xml is that it is a large file and i think that the inefficiency of itunes is dealing with a large file as it is all in memory.
The other reason was the duplicates. A database is great for finding duplicates and if i have the file checksum then it should find dupes even with different file names.
The main reason i have against the xml is that it is a large file and i think that the inefficiency of itunes is dealing with a large file as it is all in memory.
The other reason was the duplicates. A database is great for finding duplicates and if i have the file checksum then it should find dupes even with different file names.
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