Perplexity with X3D and XML
Perplexity with X3D and XML
- Subject: Perplexity with X3D and XML
- From: Christopher Henrich <email@hidden>
- Date: Wed, 15 Aug 2012 22:47:02 -0400
I am working on an app which will, among other things, write out an X3D file, in XML format. (Background: X3D is a language for describing three-dimensional scenes*; one way to put an X3D scene in a file is to use XML.) Some of the X3D "fields," which map to "attributes" of XML nodes, are of the X3D type MFString. The idea is to wrap 0, 1, or more character strings in a single package.
The specification of the XML form for X3D requires that an MFString be enclosed in single quotes, and the enclosed strings must be enclosed in double quotes. Example: ' "alpha" "bravo" '.
Now, if I construct an NSXML document in my program, and write it out using XMLDataWithOptions, I do not have fine-grained control over whether strings are enclosed in single or double quotes. I can apply the option NSXMLNodeUseSingleQuotes, but I have to apply it to the entire document. This is acceptable for the moment, but it seems clunky. What if I later have to use X3D fields of type SFString, which X3D requires to be enclosed in double quotes?
There are, as far as I can tell, no magic hooks into the mechanism of XMLDataWithOptions to apply an option in certain cases but not others. I face the prospect of having to re-implement XMLDataWithOptions, adding special wrinkles to apply an option in certain cases.
I am tempted to wonder about the rule that X3D wants to enforce upon its XML representation of fields of type SFString or MFString. I do not see how it can be expressed in an XML Data Type Definition. It doesn't seem to appear in the dtd files published by the X3D committee. Is it for real? And, according to the customer of the XML community, should it be for real?
Thanks in advance for any relevant insights.
*X3D is good for a lot of other stuff as well, but this is the aspect I am trying to use.
Christopher Henrich
email@hidden
mathinteract.com
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