The History and Benefits of XML

XML is an abbreviation for Extensible Markup Language. It has, in many ways, overcome the shortcomings of SGML and HTML. This new language has become an important industry-standard means for exchanging the data across the Internet. Though, this is a non-binary language in order to understand it, one has to know what markup language is, how they are designed, their definition, and their presentation.

Markup language is a highly used computer languages that enable the web designers to add new content and web pages to the websites. It gives a unique approach to the websites and improves the quality and the appearance. Apparently, the purpose of a markup language is to define the structure, layout, and formatting of the texts on the websites.

Benefits of XML

Easy to Understand

XML is really easy and self-describing. As it has logical tag construct, it enables people to read the text and content posted on the websites. Even a person with less or no XML knowledge can recognize the data in XML document.

Simple to Use

The one benefit with XML is that it is easy to use. It is widely adopted because it is flexible and adaptable in nature. There are no illogical signs, no-nonsense designs, and no binary language as XML is text.

Opening and Closing Tag

Just like HTML, XML also requires a closing tag at the end of the text, or at least a self-closing opening tag. So, this makes designing XML parsers much easier and simpler than designing the SGML and HTML parsers.

Any Data Can be Designed

As far as XML is concerned, it’s allows the users to design any data format unless the XML rules are followed. It can be used to define and use any kind of data.

Information Storage

XML also works great for storing information and computer applications. Though the purpose of this language is not to store information like data management system, it can work to store for limited information for finite period.

Microsoft Excel and XML – What’s the Connection

Microsoft excel 2003 was the first software of its kind that gave a serious thought about XML usage. For example: the use of excel to edit, prepare, and process data in various forms such as inventory lists, statistical data, flow charts, etc. has been significant.

The ‘X’ in XML which stands for ‘Extensible’ is also appropriate because it can be used to fulfill any business requirement – publishing, government, research etc.

Creating XML Using Java Technology Based Apps

XML or eXtensible Markup Language is the latest version of Hyper Text Markup Language, the language that browsers use to display web pages the way the designer wanted the pages displayed. XML is neither browser nor operating system specific. Additionally, the way XML formats web pages allows you to display non-English characters on your website, such as Chinese or French characters. Current browsers are able to correctly display all XML coding.

As a whole, XML has become very commonly used in computing. Most enterprise applications use a form of XML. If you use the most recent version of Microsoft Office, you’ll find that the programs use a new XML based format for their documents. For example, Word documents now end in .docx. You cannot cannot open these documents with an older version of Microsoft Office.

When you want to create a web document in XML, there are several ways to do it. However, if you are already using Java technology, the easiest way to create an XML document is by visiting http://jaxb.java.net, where you can download the JAXB API or Application Programming Interface. There are several versions of this JAXB API available on this website. The most current version is backwards compatible with the older versions. The JAXB API is distributed under the CDDL or Common Development Distribution License.

JAXB helps Java developers map their Javascript programming to XML. This allows them to spend less time coding, yet they are able to transfer their programming into XML using the W3C XML schema. With XML, Java programmers are able to extend their code to use other web service technology. Though many Java programs are client side, including XML allows greater functionality especially with applications that are run server side. Though the JAXB API is available for download as .jar or Java ARchive files which are distributed under the CDDL, there is some help available if you go to the discussion forum. This forum will allow you to ask questions or otherwise get help from those who are more familiar with this programming interface.

If you come up with improvements that could be made to the JAXB API, you might be interested in contributing to the development of this programming interface. You can contact someone at the JAXB Project, you can choose to contribute source code, a TCK or Technology Compatability Kit or otherwise help with another XJC plugin. An XJC plugin allows you to generate Java classes from XML. Almost a reverse of what the JAXB API does.

That’s what I call a gadget!!

Electronic cigarettes, or e-cigarettes as they are also known, have seen a huge increase in popularity over the last several years. The main part of their appeal is there ability to help people quit smoking easier than other methods. The most popular models have a similar appearance and feel to real cigarettes. There are dozens of different brands of electronic cigarettes available but they all consist of the same three components: a battery, an atomizer, and a reservoir.

The Battery
The battery makes up approximately two thirds of the device. All are rechargeable and are the longest lasting portion of the electronic cigarette. They come in two varieties, manual or automatic. New users are inclined to try an automatic one initially because it operates the most like a cigarette. It works by use of a small hole in the top of the battery and a pressure switch that activates it when you inhale on the device. The hole makes it more likely to fail though if liquid gets in the top, which it will when you first start vaping.

Most vapers (people who use electronic cigarettes like to refer to themselves as vapers because they inhale the vapor produced rather than smoke from a cigarette) would recommend a manual variety. A manual battery has a push button on the side that activates the battery when you press it. This is easy to adjust to and it also gives you more control over how long the atomizer is heated.

The Atomizer
The atomizer is the portion of the electronic cigarette that produces the vapor. It consists of a small electrical coil that heats up when the battery is on. As it heats, it turns the nicotine liquid into a vapor that looks very similar to cigarette smoke. This is the most delicate part of the device and although it can last quite a while with proper care, you should have replacements available. Also, having multiple atomizers in use will allow you to change flavors without comprising the taste. Some flavors, such as cinnamon, are very strong and tend to linger on the coil.

It is important when using the e-cigarette to avoid letting it run dry or flooding it with too much liquid. Running it dry for a prolonged time will cause a burnt taste and can also lead to overheating which will cause the coil to break, similar to a light bulb filament. Flooding it on the other hand will cause it to be overworked and not allow a vapor to be produced. It will also lead to a buildup of deposits on the coil, reducing the airflow and its lifespan.

The Reservoir
This usually comes as a separate cartridge that you attach to the atomizer portion, but depending on the electronic cigarette you have it may be combined with atomizer. These can either come filled, most commonly with a tobacco flavor, or you can fill them yourself. The blank cartridges are simply a small reservoir stuffed with a poly-fill material that holds the liquid and slowly wicks it to the atomizer coil. Overfilling the reservoir will lead to the flooding situation mentioned above. The best part of the electronic cigarette is the variety of flavors you can fill your cartridge with. You can even select the nicotine level you want, allowing you to gradually reduce it over time, even to zero if you like.

Visit the New Smoke Electronic Cigarette Forum for further information on e cigs.