Review: Create Powerful XML Solutions Without Coding

XML

The new XML pipeline is essentially a chain of XML operations that control data transformations of XML and non-XML data. XML pipelining seems to be the counterpart to SQL stored procedures.

Unlike procedures that use code to process data flows, Stylus Studio uses graphical map diagrams to elegantly control many data sources using validations and conditions based on XML Schemas, XSLT and XQuery. Stylus uses six graphical icons to describe XML piping between nodes and ports. Like process flows, pipeline outputs can be diverted to multiple sources and can be stopped if necessary. Stylus provides an additional pipeline step called XSL-FO using XQuery that can transform XML documents into a PDF output.

Undoubtedly, XQuery is the most powerful operation used in the new Stylus XML pipelines. Perhaps the easiest way to build XQueries is by using the Stylus Mapper, which combines source and target documents graphically. Mapper also can use XSD or DTD to build XQueries as long as XML documents are collected by the tool. XSD or DTD sources are used to generate XPath document functions in XQuery code.

Once an XML document is uploaded, Mapper provides all document details, including connections between source elements and Schemas. In addition to linking source and target elements, developers also can add source document nodes as child elements or by copying entire nodes into target structures. Mapper can help create new structures by simply connecting source and target elements with FLOWR (For, Flow, Where, Order, Return) operations.

FLOWR operations are the most powerful and direct procedures for building new structures from source documents. Like SQL Select statements, FLOWR expressions can massage multiple XML nodes into uniformed output structures. Developers also can enforce data types in FLOWR outputs to detect errors when linking nodes.

In addition, Stylus Studio provides some extensions such as Distinct, which are not well defined by the standards committee. Many of these non-standard functions are increasingly important because they cover many SQL functions that are not addressed by the W3C.

Besides FLOWR, Mapper provides conditional statements and special XQuery functions to access external data sources. For instance, the XQuery collection function can process data from relational databases as if it were XML documents inside Stylus Studio. XQuery also embeds Web service calls. By simply pointing to WSDL URLs, developers can connect to Web services fields by specifying data types and operations, and cna then generate SOAP requests. A preview pane allows developers to test SOAP requests before executing them into a pipeline. SOAP requests will be viewed as XML documents anywhere inside Stylus Studio.

By default, Stylus Studio uses DataDirect's XQuery processors and other options can work as well. For instance, developers can use the Saxon XQuery processor by simply commenting out the DataDirect code and activating the Saxon code.

Developers also can use built-in adapters to harvest external data sources from EDI, DIF, SDI, SLK and base 64 encoded binary files. Stylus Studio adapters are flexible and can be configured to accept any text files with delimiting characters.

Stylus Studio's Converter is an extremely useful tool when working with non-XML data sources. Developers can build many new adapters by just using the Converter instead of the Stylus Studio API. The Converter tool aligns columns graphically by detecting delimiters. In addition, developers have to match XML elements with structured text data.

The Converter also manages text source delimited with multiple rows. These regions of rows are separated by defining new column names. Regions also can be joined to form new XML structures. This technique allows more freedom for developers because they do not have to create new steps to build new document structures.

To generate Schemas from non-XML data, the Converter tool provides pattern matching using regular expressions to catch elements when traversing rows. The regular expression techniques provide the granularity necessary to pick up specific delimiting characters inside text files. However, this is not an exact method to control formatting in general. Pattern matching is a complex process and regular expressions can only go so far.

For a more comprehensive solution, the CRN Test Center recommends DataWatch's VorteXML, which is a powerful tool for converting non-XML data into XML in batch transactions.

Overall, there is little need to write code from scratch in Stylus Studio. Once all the XQuery and XSLT steps are tested combined, developers can start using the new XML pipeline editor.

For instance, when aggregating from an EDI data set into an inventory stock database, developers can combine those outputs by using XQuery, validation and transformation steps. The Schemas and XQueries can be dragged and dropped into the XML pipeline editor and get connected using pipelines. The tool knows to wait until each port in a pipeline is filled with data to invoke the next step in a process.

Out of a pipeline process, developers can use the new Stylus Studio XML Publisher to create visual presentations for multiple XML data sources. A trigger to format and publish outputs from a pipeline process is marked by the XSL-FO and HTML+CSS icons. XML Publisher provides a complete report generator suite to build reports from scratch. Publisher also generates XSLT and XQuery code, so that developers can build output independent of Stylus Studio.

Stylus Studio Enterprise 2007 it is now priced at $795, which is $100 less than previous versions. However, the company is running a special introductory price of $595 until the end of this year for a single user license.

Oak Park, Calif.-based DataDirect offers average margins between 10 percent and 35 percent. Seasonal SPIFFs also are offered.

Free technical support is available to solution providers and all calls are answered within 24 hours. DataDirect provides new live Web-based training, in addition to its ongoing commitment to its online training library. Many of the new videos are accessible directly from Stylus Studio's help menus.