Querying XML With Stylus Studio 2006
Priced at $895, the Stylus Enterprise suite now arrives with a ConvertToXML module, which is a tool used for creating XML files from any flat file. Stylus also has JDBC drivers to capture table data from Informix, Oracle, IBM DB2, Microsoft SQL Server and DataDirect SequeLink.
ConvertToXML provides a simple automatic conversion process that is fairly accurate. The manual conversion also is straightforward, allowing novice developers to quickly separate fields as long as columns have a fixed width. In fact, the automatic conversion tries to identify structures by looking for fixed width columns. Rows in files that do not follow a fixed width convention are either marked for deletion or can be grouped into single elements.
The ConvertToXML mechanism works well on log files, database dumps and even simple reports. However, delimiters on these files must be identified using clear breaks between columns. For more complex reports that follow multiple patterns for columns and rows, Test Center engineers recommend using Monarch's VorteXML.
Stylus' XML Schema editor is simple to use and can automatically generate Schemas from XML data and DTDs. Through a Schema documentation wizard, developers also can create XML Schemas directly from EDIFACT, including X12 and its transaction set. XML Schemas generated from converted EDI files can validate XML data captured from those files.
Stylus Studio leads the industry in adhering to most leading XML parsers and validators. The IDE provides integrated support for Apache's Xalan-J, Microsoft's MSXML .Net, and Saxon 6 and 8, including its own XSLT processor. In addition, developers can use Microsoft's MSXML DOM and SAX parsers, .Net XML parser and Apache's Xerces-J.
Stylus Studio comes with an XQuery engine that can be used to conjoin relational and XML data into any combination. The XQuery engine is probably the most powerful XML processing module in the IDE. CRN engineers were impressed with the implementation of XQuery and its integration with Stylus' XML mapping technology.
Stylus' XQuery editor behaves like a modern code editor, providing auto completion when composing statements, debugging and tracing. Stylus also provides a split view between the XQuery pane and the Mapper viewer, allowing developers to trace XQuery execution while viewing data exchanges on maps.
Stylus' Mapper uses a graphical block to represent basic XQuery functionality: For, Flow, Order, Where and Return (FLOWR). Since XQuery statements are similar to SQL in both structure and order, most developers with some relational database experience can quickly learn the language. In fact, little coding is required in most projects since logic can be constructed by linking ports between graphical blocks. Developers also can add code in user-defined function blocks to manipulate strings and customize iterative logic between XML maps.
Stylus 2006 can generate Java Web services using Apache's Axis. The tool can generate pure Java transformation code between XML files; however, when working with non-XML files, Stylus' adapters will automatically generate the proper file formats during the transformation process. The Java code generated interfaces with adapter APIs, so the tool does not generate all the parsing code. Stylus is well documented and has example files to help developers work with every module in the IDE. At www.stylusstudio.com, DataDirect provides developer forums, video tutorials and plenty of XML information. The video tutorials are accessible from the IDE.
Data Direct is aggressively pursuing the channel. With a one-tier program, the company is offering margins around 20 percent and touts its product as a method for upselling. Tech support is free to partners and there are no training requirements to join the channel program. The company requires a reseller agreement.
Although the channel program is on the simple side, the rich margins, ease of entry and extensive support options make the program worthwhile. But some prospective partners may bemoan the fact that the program offers no MDFs, spiff programs or deal-registration rewards.
