Skip to main content

By clicking Submit, you agree to the developerWorks terms of use.

The first time you sign into developerWorks, a profile is created for you. Select information in your developerWorks profile is displayed to the public, but you may edit the information at any time. Your first name, last name (unless you choose to hide them), and display name will accompany the content that you post.

All information submitted is secure.

  • Close [x]

The first time you sign in to developerWorks, a profile is created for you, so you need to choose a display name. Your display name accompanies the content you post on developerworks.

Please choose a display name between 3-31 characters. Your display name must be unique in the developerWorks community and should not be your email address for privacy reasons.

By clicking Submit, you agree to the developerWorks terms of use.

All information submitted is secure.

  • Close [x]

Select a language:

  • Close [x]
  • Close [x]

Entity management in XML applications

Control how your XML app discovers and accesses entities

Leigh Dodds (leigh@xmlhack.com), Developer and editor, Ingenta, Ltd.
Photo of Leigh Dodds
Leigh Dodds is currently employed as an Engineering Manager at Ingenta. He has been developing applications on the Java platform since 1997, and has spent the last four years working with XML and related technologies. Leigh is also a contributing editor to xmlhack, and between February 2000 and June 2002, wrote the weekly "XML-Deviant" column for XML.com. He holds a Bachelors degree in biological Science, and a Masters in computing. As being the father of a lively 18 month old (Ethan) is a full-time job in itself, Leigh currently spends his copious amount of free time investigating how to improve the speed of manufacturing of Round Tuits, which he believes will revolutionize the parenting business.

Summary:  Entity management is the term used to describe the process for controlling how an XML application discovers and accesses external resources known as entities. Entity management is an often overlooked aspect of XML application development. However, the technique offers a number of advantages. This tutorial presents the basic principles of entity management through the concept of an XML catalog -- an address book that defines mappings from resources referenced in XML documents (such as a stylesheet or schema) to URI references (such as file system paths or URLs).

Date:  30 Sep 2003
Level:  Introductory
PDF:  A4 and Letter (144 KB | 33 pages)Get Adobe® Reader®

Activity:  3568 views
Comments:  

Summary

Entity management in XML applications summary

This tutorial introduced the concept of entity management using XML catalogs. The basic model for entity management was reviewed introducing the concept of a catalog processor, which is responsible for mapping resource identifiers provided by an XML application into URI references. The application can then use these URI references to obtain the identified resources. A catalog processor typically reads several catalog files, which define mappings from identifiers to URIs. The tutorial also reviewed the advantages of extending an application to incorporate a catalog processor. These advantages included increased performance, stability, security, and interoperability.

The XML Catalog specification describes a standard format for catalog files that allows mappings from identifiers to URI references to be declared. The format supports both explicitly defined mappings and a simple rewriting mechanism. XML catalogs may also be partitioned up into several individual catalog entry files that collectively form a single logical catalog. I provided example catalog files and illustrated their use with a simple command-line application.

Finally, the tutorial introduced the XML Resolver API, which can be used to extend an XML application with support for the XML Catalog specification. The API provides an implementation of the two key interfaces used to resolve identifiers and URIs in the JAXP application. Example code demonstrated the use of the EntityResolver and URIResolver interfaces.

The concept of entity management is often overlooked by XML developers but it can greatly improve application performance and flexibility. Indeed, supporting XML catalogs should be considered a best practice among XML developers.

6 of 9 | Previous | Next

Comments

Back to top

Close [x]

Help: Update or add to My dW interests

What's this?

This little timesaver lets you update your My developerWorks profile with just one click! The general subject of this content (AIX and UNIX, Information Management, Lotus, Rational, Tivoli, WebSphere, Java, Linux, Open source, SOA and Web services, Web development, or XML) will be added to the interests section of your profile, if it's not there already. You only need to be logged in to My developerWorks.

And what's the point of adding your interests to your profile? That's how you find other users with the same interests as yours, and see what they're reading and contributing to the community. Your interests also help us recommend relevant developerWorks content to you.

View your My developerWorks profile

Return from help

Close [x]

Help: Remove from My dW interests

What's this?

Removing this interest does not alter your profile, but rather removes this piece of content from a list of all content for which you've indicated interest. In a future enhancement to My developerWorks, you'll be able to see a record of that content.

View your My developerWorks profile

Return from help

static.content.url=http://www.ibm.com/developerworks/js/artrating/
SITE_ID=1
Zone=XML
ArticleID=153752
TutorialTitle=Entity management in XML applications
publish-date=09302003
author1-email=leigh@xmlhack.com
author1-email-cc=dwxed@us.ibm.com

Table of contents

6 of 9 | Previous | Next

Local resources

Tags

Help
Use the search field to find all types of content in My developerWorks with that tag.

Use the slider bar to see more or fewer tags.

Popular tags shows the top tags for this particular content zone (for example, Java technology, Linux, WebSphere).

My tags shows your tags for this particular content zone (for example, Java technology, Linux, WebSphere).

Use the search field to find all types of content in My developerWorks with that tag. Popular tags shows the top tags for this particular content zone (for example, Java technology, Linux, WebSphere). My tags shows your tags for this particular content zone (for example, Java technology, Linux, WebSphere).

 

Dig deeper into XML on developerWorks

Try IBM PureSystems. No charge.

IBM PureSystems on a kaleideoscope background

Experience today!

Get started with the cloud-based trial and pattern development kit.

Share this page:

  • Close [x]

Follow developerWorks:

  • Close [x]