Server Sided XML

[Endbringer]

I have become quite familar with XML using the MSXML Parser 4, but only on the client-side. My question is this: How do I make a website based on XML without having the client install the MSXML parser? Is there a way to make a server do all the handling? I am making a website for a friend that I know would be much better if I use XML, but I don't want to have to make everyone who visits the page have to download the parser.

Any help would be appreciated.

Robert

 

[Endbringer]

Thanks for the answers.....

 

[ChrisHunt]

I guess it depends on what facilities you have at the server side, what programming skills you have, and what you want to do to the XML. There are XML Parsers available for most languages - Perl, PSP, ASP, whatever. XSLT support is more limited.

You're on the right track though - transform the XML at the server end and only send (X)HTML to the browser.

-- Chris Hunt
Extra Connections Ltd

http://www.extracon.com

The real world's OK for a visit, but you wouldn't want to LIVE there!

 

[mulligh]

It depends on the webserver they will be using. The XML parser will need to be configured to work with that webserver.

For instance, if you are using Apache webserver, there are many tools that are specifically designed to be used with Apache

See:

http://xml.apache.org/

IMO, server-side parsing is the way to go if your output method is HTML, because it is sent to every client the same way and so you don't need to worry about how much XML support the client machine has, nor problems with the configuration of that support.

 

[lordraven]

I agree, server side is definitely the way to go... you can use embedded PHP to achieve most of the things that Javascript can do, and you don't have to worry whether the visitor has PHP enabled like you do with JS...