XML considerations

Author：Eve Cole Update Time：2025-01-03 19:12:02

XML considerations
 In order to ensure correct usage when you use XML, you need to pay attention to which operations are allowed and which operations are not supported by XML. Please read this section carefully to learn more!
 Here is a list of techniques you should try to avoid when working with XML.
 Internet Explorer - XML Data Island
 what is it? XML data islands are XML data embedded in HTML pages.
 Why should you avoid using it? XML data islands are only available in the Internet Explorer browser.
 What to replace it with? You should use JavaScript and the XML DOM in HTML to parse and display XML.
 For more information about JavaScript and the XML DOM, visit our XML DOM tutorial.
 XML Data Island Example
 This example uses the XML document "cd_catalog.xml".
 Bind the XML document to an <xml> tag in the HTML document. The id attribute defines the identifier of the data island, while the src attribute points to the XML file:
 Example
 This example only applies to IE browser
 <html><body><xml id="cdcat" src="cd_catalog.xml"></xml><table datasrc="#cdcat"><tr><td><span datafld="ARTIST"></ span></td><td><span datafld="TITLE"></span></td></tr></table></body></html>
 Try it »

The datasrc attribute of the <table> tag binds the HTML table to the XML data island.

The <span> tag allows the datafld attribute to reference the XML element to be displayed. In this example, the references are "ARTIST" and "TITLE". When the XML is read, a corresponding table row is created for each <CD> element.

Internet Explorer - Behavior

what is it? Internet Explorer 5 introduced behaviors. Behaviors are a way to add behavior to XML (or HTML) elements by using CSS styles.

Why should you avoid using it? Only Internet Explorer supports the behavior attribute.

What to use instead? Use JavaScript and XML DOM (or HTML DOM) instead.

Example 1 - Mouseover highlight

The <style> element in the following HTML file defines a behavior for the <h1> element:

<html><head><style type="text/css">h1 { behavior: url(behave.htc) }</style></head><body><h1>Mouse over me!!!</h1 ></body></html>

Shown below is the XML document "behave.htc" (this file contains a JavaScript and event handlers for the element):

<attach for="element" event="onmouseover" handler="hig_lite" /><attach for="element" event="onmouseout" handler="low_lite" /><script>function hig_lite(){element.style. color='red';}function low_lite(){element.style.color='blue';}</script> Try it »

 Example 2 - Typewriter Simulation
 The <style> element in the following HTML file defines a behavior for the element with the id "typing":
 <html><head><style type="text/css">#typing{behavior:url(typing.htc);font-family:'courier new';}</style></head><body>< span id="typing" speed="100">IE5 introduced DHTML behaviors.Behaviors are a way to add DHTML functionality to HTML elements with the ease of CSS.<br /><br />How do behaviors work?<br /> By using XML we can link behaviors to any element in a web pageand manipulate that element.</p>v </span></body></html>

Shown below is the XML document "typing.htc":

<attach for="window" event="onload" handler="beginTyping" /><method name="type" /><script>var i,text1,text2,textLength,t;function beginTyping(){i=0;text1=element.innerText;textLength=text1.length;element.innerText="";text2="";t=window.setInterval(element.id+".type()",speed) ;}function type(){text2=text2+text1.substring(i,i+1);element.innerText=text2;i=i+1;if (i==textLength){clearInterval(t);}}</script> Try it »

Tip: If necessary, you can read the content of the "HTML <style> Tag" section of this site.

XML considerations