XOM API for Processing XML with Java

[Angela Amoateng <angela.amoateng AT kcl.ac.uk>]

Hi Ed,

Thanks for your advice! I am learning more about attributes and 
elements and which one would be best, when using methods to retrieve 
the Japanese word or English word. I am still trying to get the grips 
with the syntax of XML, but it definitely would be best for me, because 
of the tree- like structure.

Conveying each set of words how you suggested as elements, seems to be 
a good idea, since I would want to break down what type of word it is, 
i.e. verb or noun or a phrase. Would this tree structure be best? :

<words>
   <noun>
     <english>apple</english>
     <japanese>ringo</japanese>
   </noun>

   ...

   <noun>
     <english>book</english>
     <japanese>hon</japanese>
   </noun>

   <verb>
     <english>eat</english>
     <japanese>tabemasu</japanese>
   </verb>

   ...

   <verb>
     <english>see</english>
     <japanese>mimasu</japanese>
   </verb>

   <phrase>
     <english>How are you?</english>
     <japanese>ogenki desuka</japanese>
   </phrase>

   ...

      <phrase>
     <english>Good bye</english>
     <japanese>sayonara</japanese>
   </phrase>
</words>

Would XOM be able to read this and return the content in the elements, 
so that I could display it in a JTextfield? Will it also be able to 
read Japanese characters (unicode) too? I am using romanised Japanese 
in the Japanese tags.

Thanks again in advance!

Angela

Quoting Ed Davies <edavies AT nildram.co.uk>:

> Angela Amoateng wrote:
> > 2) Can I create an XML document using XOM model, that will enable me 
> > to have an "EqualsTo" function  for each word. For example, "apple" 
> > in Japanese is "ringo" so:
> >
> > <word>apple = ringo <word>
>
> Expanding on what Grzegorz said, XML is only really a syntax
> for data.  It doesn't have any "understanding" of the meaning
> so if you chose to use the "=" sign to delimit the words in
> the two languages that would be fine but XML will just treat
> the sequence of characters between the "<word>" start and end
> tags (I assume you meant the second "<word>" to be an end tag,
> "</word>") as just that, a sequence of characters with no
> additional meaning.
>
> On the other hand, XML is intended to convey the structure
> of the data using its own syntax.  Adding your own delimiters
> (e.g., your "=" symbol) is rather missing the point.  To
> make slightly better use of XML in this sort of case you
> might choose a form like:
>
>  <word>
>    <english>apple</english>
>    <japanese>ringo</japanese>
>  </word>
>
> Alternatively, you could use:
>
>  <word english="apple" japanese="ringo"/>
>
> There are all sorts of reasons for choosing elements and/or
> attributes.  In a case like this, you'd use elements if
> there is any need to add mark up within the words.  E.g..,
> you might want to mark word stems the way dictionaries do.
>
> Well, I think that's plenty on XML generalities for a XOM
> specific list.  I suggest you have a read up on XML before
> deciding if it's appropriate for your project.
>
> Ed.



--
Angela Amoateng
angela.amoateng AT kcl.ac.uk