XOM API for Processing XML with Java

["Bradley S. Huffman" <hip AT cs.okstate.edu>]

John Cowan writes:

> Bradley S. Huffman scripsit:
> 
> > Hmmm, I could easily see users, for portablity, doing something like
> > 
> >     String line_seperator = System.getProperty("line.seperator");
> >              ...
> >     attribute.setValue("one and two" + line_sperator + "and three");
> >              ...
> >     serializer.setLineSeperator(line_seperator);
> > 
> > and then wondering why the string is one char. longer on some systems then
> > on others.
> 
> Because the line separator (a) is not the same on all systems, and (b)
> is not portable.  When dealing with XOM, the right thing is \n, \n, and
> once again \n.

Then it better be documented! documented! and documented! Not only in
Serializer, but in every classes with a setValue method or equivalent, or
because of Murphy's Law, it will happen, and it will cause confusion.

This is one thing I've learned from the JDOM project, every time you try to
do something automagically it bites you big time. Best not to do it and 
provide better documentation.

Brad