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XML Don't

Here are some technologies you should try to avoid when using XML.

Internet Explorer - XML Data Islands

What is it? An XML data island is XML data embedded into an HTML page.

Why avoid it? XML Data Islands only works with Internet Explorer browsers.

What to use instead? You should use JavaScript and XML DOM to parse and display XML in HTML.

For more information about JavaScript and 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 an id for the data island, and the src attribute points to the XML file:

Example

This example only works in IE

<html>
<body>

<xml id="cdcat" src="cd_catalog.xml"></xml>

<table border="1" datasrc="#cdcat">
<tr>
<td><span datafld="ARTIST"></span></td>
<td><span datafld="TITLE"></span></td>
</tr>
</table>

</body>
</html>

Try it yourself »

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

The <span> tags allow the datafld attribute to refer to the XML element to be displayed. In this case, "ARTIST" and "TITLE". As the XML is read, additional rows are created for each <CD> element.

Internet Explorer - Behaviors

What is it? Internet Explorer 5 introduced behaviors. Behaviors are a way to add behaviors to XML (or HTML) elements with the use of CSS styles.

Why avoid it? The behavior attribute is only supported by Internet Explorer.

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

Example 1 - Mouseover Highlight

The following HTML file has a <style> element that 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>

The XML document "behave.htc" is shown below (The file contains a JavaScript and event handlers for the elements):

<attach for="element" event="onmouseover" handler="hig_lite" />
<attach for="element" event="onmouseout" handler="low_lite" />

<script type="text/javascript">
function hig_lite()
{
element.style.color='red';
}

function low_lite()
{
element.style.color='blue';
}
</script>

Try it yourself »

Example 2 - Typewriter Simulation

The following HTML file has a <style> element that defines a behavior for elements with an id of "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 page
and manipulate that element.</p>v </span>

</body>
</html>

The XML document "typing.htc" is shown below:

<attach for="window" event="onload" handler="beginTyping" />
<method name="type" />

<script type="text/javascript">
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 yourself »

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