XML Converter manual

XML Converter is the Windows based graphical transformation engine for creating XML documents from your database. It allows organizations to quickly and easily share information, captured within corporate data, with anyone in the world by utilizing established XML document definitions. Using this software, enterprises can share data with customers, suppliers or partners as well as distribute data across business units. XML Converter is great for producing fast, static, simple, data-driven XML documents.

Just choose your data source, select transformation methods, and generate the XML. This tool quickly and easily converts source data from Microsoft Access .mdb databases, Microsoft Excel .xls books, MS Word .doc document or text .txt file. XML Converter supports major databases such as Oracle, MySQL and MS SQL Server. In the future it will handle also any ODBC database. Once you've selected a table, you can control the output by choosing between several XML writing and mapping transformation methods. The XML Converter allows you to browse source data and make analysis of data source structure. This software has database navigation features that provide the ability to view your entire source file. It allows users to see source files that they are opening for converting. Also after converting you can review and edit destination XML document.

XML Converter takes all the guesswork out of designing and authoring database publishing projects from start to finish. You don’t need to know any Extensible Markup Language (XML) or Extensible Style Language (XSL). Besides creating an XML document the XML Converter will allow you to generate special XSL document, which will accompany your final XML document with a template XSL style-sheet. Both of these files can be used for your further needs such as: web-applications, reports, presentations, and so on. The elegant tabbed design assists you through the transformation process.

XML Converter is designed for both 32-bit and 64-bit operating systems and works under the Microsoft® .NET Framework.

The XML Converter runs on:
- Microsoft Windows NT® 4.0 (SP 6a required)
- Microsoft Windows 2000 (SP2 Recommended)
- Microsoft Windows XP Professional
- Microsoft Windows XP Home Edition
- Microsoft Windows Vista Family
- Microsoft Windows 7 Family
(Windows 95/98/ME and Windows 3.1 systems are not supported)

Software Requirements:
Microsoft Internet Explorer 5.01 or later (install Internet Explorer 6.0)

To author with XML Converter, your system should be equipped with the following:

Pentium 90 MHz (minimum) or faster (recommended)

32 MB RAM (minimum) or more (96 MB or more recommended)

50 MB free disk space (minimum) or more

Important: Do not open a Microsoft Excel file (or MS Word file) that is being used as a source during the XML Converter execution, because a "file in use" error will occur.

License Agreement

Before installing RS XML Converter please read carefully terms and conditions of this agreement. You will express your consent to be bound by the terms of this Agreement by obtaining or opening Software media package. If you do not agree to all terms of this agreement do not use Software and destroy all copies of Software from your computer.

Grant of license:

Rustemsoft (the Developer) grants you (the Customer) a worldwide, non-exclusive, non-transferable, personal license to install and use the accompanying XML Converter (the Software) in the manner provided herein.

1. Software is licensed, not sold. Software is protected by copyright law, international copyright treaty provisions and other intellectual property laws and treaties. Customer must not allow copies of Software or any part of it to be made or distributed to anyone else. Customer may make backup copies of Software for archival purposes only.

2. Software is licensed for use on a single computer. Customer may delete Software from one computer and reinstall it on another, but Customer may not install Software on more than one computer at any given time without Developer's prior written permission.

3. Software may not be rented, leased, nor in any other manner commercially exploited without Developer's prior written permission.

4. Developer makes no representations or warranties about the suitability of this Software for any purpose. Software is provided 'as is' without express or implied warranties, including warranties of merchantability and fitness for a particular purpose or non-infringement. Developer may not issue updates to this Software.

5. All data sources accessed through Software is the property of the applicable content owner and may be protected by applicable copyright law.This license gives Customer no rights to such content, and Developer disclaims any liability for misuse of data sources.

6. Title, ownership rights, and intellectual property rights in and to Software shall remain with Developer. Customer agrees not to modify Software or attempt to decipher, disassemble, decompile or reverse engineer Software. Reproduction and/or redistribution of any portion of Software is prohibited without Developer's prior written permission.

7. Developer may terminate this license at any time by delivering notice to Customer and Customer may terminate this license at any time by destroying or erasing Customer's copy of Software. Upon termination of this license, Customer agrees to destroy all copies of Software. In case of termination sections 4 through 10 of this agreement shall indefinitely survive its termination. This license is the complete statement of the agreement between Developer and Customer and merges and supersedes all other or prior understandings, purchase orders, agreements and arrangements.

8. Developer or its suppliers shall not be liable for direct, incidental, consequential, special or indirect damages of any sort whatsoever. This includes loss of business profits, revenues, information, or business interruption resulting from Customer's use of Software or inability to use Software, even if Developer has been informed of the possibility of such damages.

9. This Software is not fault-tolerant. It is not designed, manufactured or intended for use in hazardous environments requiring fail-safe performance. Developer and its suppliers specifically disclaim any express or implied warranty of fitness for high-risk activities.

10. Developer reserves the right to discontinue distribution and/or support of its products at any time without notice. Developer reserves the right to change the prices of its products and services at any time without notice. Developer reserves the right to put Customer's company name on User representative list at Rustemsoft web site.

Complete agreement:

This Agreement is the entire agreement between you and Developer relating to its subject matter. This Agreement may not be modified other than in writing executed by Rustemsoft.

Copyright © 2001-2024Rustemsoft. All rights reserved.

XML Converter is "Shareware". This means that we have made the software available to you for the trial. The evaluation is not slideshow presentation. You can create, format, map, view, edit an XML output. It is fully functional but you can use it for limited time only. And then, if you decide to buy the software, you must register your copy with us.

Evaluation version (non-registered) of XML Converter is a "full-featured" release. This means that the same capabilities available in the registered software are present in the non-registered software. This allows you to try out all the features in XML Converter to confirm that they work to your satisfaction.

Registration entitles you free technical support for 30 days and free minor upgrades to the software. Registration may also entitle you to discounts on new software releases from Rustemsoft. Developer will also send you information bulletins by email to let you know about what’s happening with Rustemsoft products.

Finally, by registering the software, you provide us with the resources and incentive to support the software with updates and to develop additional quality products in the future.

Point your browser to one of the following Order Forms to register online:

XML Converter Standard Edition

XML Converter with command-line interface

XML Converter Professional Edition

1. Run XML Converter

2. Open Source file by using 'Open' dialog box

3. Choose a spreadsheet (or table), which you want to convert from opened Microsoft Access .mdb databases, Microsoft Excel .xls books, MS Word .doc document, Oracle table / view, or text .txt file.

4. To start data transformation just click one of destination file type buttons: DTD, XSD or XML

5. After reviewing or editing your destination file in special window you can save the file by using 'Save' dialog box

The XML Converter main window is split into two sections (Source and Target). Each section is split into two vertically-aligned panes.

The left pane of Source section displays a hierarchical view of Data Source objects or containers in a tree-like structure. A container is a Data Source object that can hold other Data Source objects, including other containers.

For example, the "CarsExmpl.xls" displayed above is a container that holds the Table folders and the properties folder. Data Source is at the root of the tree.

The right pane of Source section displays the contents of the container that is selected in the left pane. The right Target section displays the content of Target – DTD, XSD or XML output. It presents XML output in three interface pages: XML Tree, XML Grid and XML Script. The right pane of Target section gives you ability to browse and edit final XML content in any of these three windows. The left pane of Target section shows you a Schema of your final XML output. You can change the appearance of panes in the Options dialog.

In the right Target section after converting you can review and edit destination XML document. XML Converter Script editor has the same editing features like most of contemporary text editors have. On the Edit menu bar you can choose any options to edit final XML content. Converter allows you to instantly validate your edited XML content.

Also, you can extract your final XML output data or convert it according to specified rules by using Crystal Software Australia TextPipe tool. Go: Add-Ins – TextPipe. TextPipe is a multi-file text transformation workbench. You have to have the TextPipe installed on your computer. Go the link to open TextPipe web page for more information.

The software enables you to resize each of four panes by using special splitters on edge of every pane. When you pass the mouse pointer over the internal vertical edge of pane, the cursor changes to indicate that the chosen pane can be resized.

The main dialog toolbar is intended for manipulation and it provides you with graphic buttons for common commands.

Open – open existing Data Source file (MS Office: mdb, xsl, doc, or txt)

Open DB – open Source Database (Oracle or SQL Server)

Save – save Target file (XML, XSD, or DTD)

DTD – create DTD(document type definition)

XSD – create XSD(XML Schema Definition)

XML – create XML document

IE – button for express view your generated XML document using MS Internet Explorer.

The Data Source is a collection of all the objects in a database. XML Converter displays a Data Source as a hierarchy of containers and their contents. This section describes how to view the schema of a Data Source.

Expanding a Data Source container

Just as in the Windows Explorer, there are a variety of methods for viewing the objects in your Data Source, including the following:

Click a container in the left pane to select that container. The middle pane then displays the contents of the selected container.

Click once on the plus or minus icon next to a container in the left pane. This action expands or collapses the container. If no plus or minus icons appear next to a container, it means that the container holds no objects extending beyond the level of that container.

Double-click a container. This action expands the tree in the left pane and displays the contents of the container in the right pane.

The left pane displays container objects only. The middle pane displays the contents of the Table object selected in the left pane. For example, when you select some table’s folder in the left pane, all data within that table is displayed in the middle pane.

Viewing the tables in a Data Source

The following illustrates the steps taken to examine the contents of a table folder in a database container.

To examine the tables in the sample database:

Open Data Source by using "Open" button on tool bar. Root element will be expanded.

Each table in tree is itself a container. Select a table in the left pane to reveal the contents of that table in the middle pane. Each table object contains folders for columns and properties.

Expand the table object in the left pane to reveal its contents in the hierarchical tree. Select each object in the table container. You will be able to see the contents of that object.

View the data in the database

In addition to viewing the Data Source tree, you can view the data in the database tables from XML Converter.

To view the contents of database tables:

In the left pane, click the contact table. In the middle pane the data in the table is displayed.

Converting features

On the left of each table you see checkbox. If you select/deselect these checkboxes you may turn on/off some particular table for including it to transformation process. You may include more than one table to a group of tables, which will be converted. By clicking first database checkbox you can select all tables. In this case when you have selected all of them you can convert data from all tables to one common XML output.

You can connect directly to a Database to obtain some XML outputs. The "Connect to Database" dialog box is used to connect to ODBC data source, an Oracle database server, MS SQL Server, or to MySQL. You can display the Connect to Database dialog box by selecting the "Connect to Database" item from the "File" menu or just push "Ctrl+F2" keys. You can also access the dialog box by selecting the "Connect to Database" button in the Main dialog toolbar and left-mouse clicking to call the dialog.
User Name: Specifies user's name for connecting to the database.
Password: Specifies user's password for connecting to the database.
Database: Network service name, such as MY_DATABASE, for the database to which you are connecting. The connect strings for the service names must be set up correctly. Otherwise, the connection provider used by the XML Converter is not able to locate the database.

Check the "Save connection Info" option to store the connection settings as the preferred settings to be used when connecting to this database next time when you will use XML Converter again. You can set up "Save connection Info" to connect to a database without entering login information.

ODBC connection

Rustemsoft XML Converter can connect to any database that provides an ODBC connection interface. Please refer to your database providers' specifications to determine the availability of an ODBC connection and the connection string necessary.

ODBC is a programming interface (API) to access local and remote database management systems. ODBC is a de facto industry standard and works on many different operating systems and programming languages. It shields programmers from the complexity of different databases and the communications software used to access the data. ODBC defines an object called a "data source" that is referenced by name and maps its name to the exact location of data (network software, server name, database name, and user information if needed).

You want to convert a data located in some data source to XML format. If you suppose to make an ODBC connection in XML Converter you must first setup an ODBC data source (DSN). Use the name of the data source (DSN) as the database name in the XML Converter "Connect to Database" dialog. The other useful fields for ODBC are user name and password. The host and port field is not used for ODBC.

By clicking on "ODBC Administrator" button you may access ODBC Data Source Administrator. This control comprises the main interface of the ODBC Driver Manager. The ODBC Driver Manager lists the ODBC drivers installed for different DBMSes. You can add new drivers, remove or configure existing ones within this control. The XML Converter "Connect to Database" dialog automatically adds a configured DSN in the DSNs list.

XML Converter allows you insert some specific table name for conversion. Also instead inserting name of a table you can insert SQL select statement which will be used to output data to a query.

If you chose to later to use another database for XML conversion, you will only have to select a different data source (DSN) and XML Converter will run the same through the ODBC interface.

Oracle Table Data editing

You can open and browse some Oracle database objects. The types of database objects that XML Converter supports for an Oracle database are:

Properties
Tables
Synonyms
Views
Stored Procedures
Functions
Packages
Triggers

XML Converter for Oracle now has Table Data Editing features, which allows you to view, update, and delete the contents of a table. To view table data, simply left-mouse click a table in the tree view and just start to edit table data content.
In the Table Data Editing mode, you can perform the following tasks:
View a table you have selected as rows and columns in a datagrid.
Update fields, and insert and delete rows in the table.
Make multiple changes, which will be applied to Oracle database at once.
User can edit and format memo field values (LONG data type) in a special text editing window.

In order to present your data (Excel file, Access database etc.) to the user in an attractive way in browser, mobile phone or PDF format, the original data must first be converted to the necessary XML formats. XML documents and data can be available in almost any structure whatsoever. Everyone can define his or her own XML document structure and describe it. However, a standard database table (Excel spreadsheet, Oracle table/view) is a plane, two-dimensional representation of data content. When you convert your data source table to XML format you get a plane column-row shaped XML output.

What to do if you need to get an especially structured XML file from your Excel source (or from other data storage)? How to create an XML with your particular multi-level tagged tree structure from your specially formatted data source?

We would first like to present a simple example showing the XML format, which XML Converter generates from an Excel source. The example is based on the document shown in Figure 2. It is an XML document consisting of the elements Cars and, in it, Car, Details and Detail. Top level of XML source tree is 'Sheet1'. It presents every 'Corporation'. The 'CARS' tag is a direct parent of elements such as 'Car', 'Details' and 'Detail'. You can see an Excel data source spreadsheet on figure 1, which is converted to the shown XML output. Also you can see this readable XML presentation, which is accompanied with an XSL stylesheet.

Figure 1. A specially structured Excel data source spreadsheet

XML Transformation Scenario is designed for transforming any data source content into a multidimensional XML documents by using XML Converter. It is a part of interface of the conversion software. This XML Converter feature provides capabilities to design and edit XML Transformation Scenario for your final structured XML document, which you get by transforming some data source. The XML Converter creates a generic template-scenario of a document. This interface provides capabilities to create an XML document template-scenario based on a specific data source content. Contents can be saved as an XML document with embedded XSD.

The XML Converter lets you create and define a template scenario for an XML document as a structured tree. This conversion scenario forms the basis for creating and editing an XML output according to the criteria defined for each data source column in the template scenario. The scenario consists of structured tags tree that is invariant and, columns and complex data representation that define the content of a final XML document.

The tags tree is made up in convenient data grid form. In a scenario background you will need to identify Tag Level of each data column, Tag Names, Sub Tag Names, Group Rows Names as a complex data representation to define structure of an XML document. See figure 3.

The XML Converter lets you create complex representation by grouping columns as a node-structured tree. The XML Converter uses a predefined template scenario to create structured XML content according to the template definition. The content can then be stored as XML. The XML Converter can also be used to create an XML DTD or XSD Schema for the document.

Figure 2. Final XML output

Sometimes users want to include XML output's columns values in specified char combinations. For example, some of fields in user's spreadsheet need to be set in a CDATA tag. XML Converter allows you to specify one attribute as being of type CDATA and have it apply to all instances of that element in the XML. For this case Scenario interface has two fields: "Prefix" and "Suffix".

Example
There is the structure of a sample Excel sheet with four columns here:

LastName
FirstName
City
Detail

What we probably need to happen is that for every record in the XML, the "Detail" attribute will be enclosed with a CDATA tag because its likely to contain HTML and other markups in it and it will be used by the Flash, which wants to see that kind of data in a CDATA tag. This is what we may get first by using XML Converter:

In Scenario interface for "Prefix" field we insert "<![CDATA[" and for "Suffix" - "]]>" strings. After reconverting we can get the following XML output:

XML Converter gives you ability to adjust and save a transformation template scenario for each converted table(spreadsheet). Once you set this template scenario for your particular data source next time you will be able to reuse your previous stored setting. How to generate a Scenario for a specially structured Excel data source by using the Converter? Our example is based on shown above Excel spreadsheet and its final XML output. Please follow the several steps:

Figure 3. XML Transformation Scenario Interface

1. On the "Options" form select "Use predefined XML Transformation Scenario" checkbox.

2. Try to create some XML output from your data source. During the creation a special "XML Transformation Scenario" shown above interface window will appear. By using this interface you will adjust and save a transformation template-scenario for each converted table.

3. First you will get a template for a plain table. In column 'Level' all table fields will have the same first level '>'. Values for columns 'Column Name' and 'Tag Name' will be equal. You may give new values for 'Tag Name' for every table column of your data source. During the subsequent transformation all XML tag names will be replaced with these new values.

4. By clicking on 'Level' column buttons for each table column you will be able generate a tree structure for your XML output. When you increase a tag level you will need to insert a name for this new tag to 'Sub Tag Name' field. Every change you make in data grid will be reflected in 'XML Structure view' window, where you can see an XML final structure representation.

5. 'RowFlag' column helps you to identify what table columns must be included to 'rows'. What do I mean when say 'rows'? Take a look at figure 1. For one Car we have several Models, which are presented as separated rows in data source. All these rows are 'Detail' tags in our final XML. All of these rows belong to 'DETAILS' tag, which is a direct parent of these elements.

6. To combine all rows under the same structure level you will need to give a name for this group of rows in 'Rows Tag Name' column.

7. If you need you can insert particular char strings into "Prefix" and "Suffix" fields.


Only one rule. To get an XML output with a structure, which you need, your data source has to look like the sample Excel spreadsheet shown above on figure 1. By using XML Transformation Scenario interface you let know to XML Converter what a structure you would like to provide for a generated XML.

XML Converter provides a completely graphical user-friendly environment which will help you visually transform Oracle (MS SQL Server, MySQL) tables or/and views to XML format. You will be able browse view result in data grid and convert to XML document. Using XML Converter you can query an Oracle/MS SQL Server/MySQL tables and return results as XML outputs. In XML Converter user interface you can create and replace a view, this view will contain the results of the query.

By clicking right mouse button on the database tree (left pane) XML Converter allows you to create new view. Then you will need to insert a SQL script for your query. In middle pane "Script" tab you may write something like the following:

SELECT * FROM MY_TABLE

and then save your new view.

Then you could select "Data" tab button and browse data grid to move through the query result. You can now query created view as if it were a single database table.

Also you may overwrite the previous view. Go back to "Script" section of middle pane and rewrite your query, change something in query script. For example, you may change your query SQL script:

SELECT * FROM MY_TABLE ORDER BY YEAR

Click "Save" button and go back to "Data". Your view will be replaced and corresponding query result will be recreated.

To start data transformation just click "XML" button on main XML Converter toolbar.
After reviewing or editing your destination XML output in a special window (right pane) you can save the XML file by using "Save" dialog box.

Main Features of XML Converter related to Oracle database are:
1. Supports Generation of XML documents from Oracle tables and/or views.
2. Supports in XML Converter GUI inserts, updates, and deletes of database records. Update data directly to Oracle database. These updates are corresponding to a given XML document.
3. Supports general Oracle data types.
4. Create and update Oracle views. By using XML Converter you can create a view in your Oracle database, browse query result, update the view and store it.
5. Supports dynamic generation of Document Type Definition (DTD) or XML Schema Definition (XSD) while retrieving an XML document from the database.
6. Supports simple transformation of the retrieved XML document using XML Stylesheets (XSL).

XML Converter for MySQL database
MySQL has no native facilities for dealing with XML. This does not mean we are left out of the XML evolution. Rustemsoft XML Converter has ‘MySQL to XML’ support. This software provides a natural bridge for spanning the gap between XML and the relational MySQL database.
Actually current version of MySQL database has no any view objects. By using XML Converter you can create a view for your MySQL database, update and store it. Since MySQL does not have views these SQL query objects will not be stored into your MySQL database. These objects can be reusable and will be stored separately of your MySQL database. They are properties of Rustemsoft XML Converter.

The following XML Converter possibilities are open to you for employing XML processing techniques to make more productive use of your MySQL server:
1. Supports Generation of XML documents from MySQL tables and/or views. Writing a query result as an XML document results in a platform-neutral ASCII file that can be used by other applications, even those that are not necessarily database-oriented.
2. Supports general MySQL data types.
3. Create and update MySQL views. By using XML Converter you can create a view for your MySQL database, browse query result, update the view and store it.
4. Supports dynamic generation of Document Type Definition (DTD) or XML Schema Definition (XSD) while retrieving an XML document from the database.
5. Supports simple transformation of the retrieved XML document using XML Stylesheets (XSL).

A key aspect of dealing with XML documents is to be able to easily access their content. XML Converter provides an easy "XML tags Setup" interface for specifying and selecting parts of an XML document. Extensible Markup Language allows a person to invent an array of tags to describe their data. Tags are as important in XML as in HTML. They allow you to describe your data elements and give them life. A person could invent a set of tags to describe a data structure. XML Converter has 4 tag levels of generated XML output. By using the "XML tags Setup" interface you may adjust a representation of each of them.