Embracing the Value of XML in Institutional Research Jim Few Center for Institutional Effectiveness Kennesaw State University Association for Institutional Research 2005 Forum San Diego, CA Jim Few Center for Institutional Effectiveness Kennesaw State University Association for Institutional Research 2005 Forum San Diego, CA

 What is XML?  Why should you care?  What should you know?  How can you use XML?  What is XML?  Why should you care?  What should you know?  How can you use XML? Agenda

W3C: What is XML?  The eXtensible Markup Language (XML) is a non- proprietary standard that provides a format for describing structured data.  XML was designed to describe, store, carry, and exchange data in a unified manner.  XML provides the ability to liberate data from proprietary data silos.  XML separates data from presentation.  The eXtensible Markup Language (XML) is a non- proprietary standard that provides a format for describing structured data.  XML was designed to describe, store, carry, and exchange data in a unified manner.  XML provides the ability to liberate data from proprietary data silos.  XML separates data from presentation.

What XML is Not  A replacement for HTML  A replacement for relational databases  A programming language (e.g. Java, C++, VB)  Terse  A panacea  A replacement for HTML  A replacement for relational databases  A programming language (e.g. Java, C++, VB)  Terse  A panacea

Text File Format ID Lname MnameFnameGender Clark F BettyF Bhatt SohamM Jones T JohnM Klein R KimF ID Lname MnameFnameGender Clark F BettyF Bhatt SohamM Jones T JohnM Klein R KimF

XML Format

 Standard (Non-proprietary)  Extensible  Flexible  Easy to share  Web-friendly  Separates data from presentation  Far richer than flat text files  Makes the structure of the document trivial, leaving the implementation and dialect up to you  Standard (Non-proprietary)  Extensible  Flexible  Easy to share  Web-friendly  Separates data from presentation  Far richer than flat text files  Makes the structure of the document trivial, leaving the implementation and dialect up to you Why Should You Care?

 XML syntax is strict  XML documents provide a self-describing syntax  All XML elements must have a closing tag  XML tags are case sensitive  All XML elements must be properly nested  All XML documents must have a root element  XML syntax is strict  XML documents provide a self-describing syntax  All XML elements must have a closing tag  XML tags are case sensitive  All XML elements must be properly nested  All XML documents must have a root element What Should You Know? W3C:

 Microsoft  IBM  Oracle  SAS  Adobe  SAP  Microsoft  IBM  Oracle  SAS  Adobe  SAP Who Supports XML?  Sun Microsystems  BEA  Business Objects  W3C  Computer Associates  PeopleSoft  Sun Microsystems  BEA  Business Objects  W3C  Computer Associates  PeopleSoft Anyone who is a player in the computing world

Data Silos Oracle MS Excel MS Access HTML PDF MS Word Crystal

XML Facilitates Data Sharing Oracle MS Word Crystal MS Excel SQL Server Dreamweaver MS Access DB2 XML

Text Versus XML Student Record Nick Roberts Main St Clemson, SC Student Record Nick Roberts Main St Clemson, SC Roberts Nick Main St Clemson SC Roberts Nick Main St Clemson SC

HTML Versus XML Student Record Nick Roberts Main St Clemson, SC Student Record Nick Roberts Main St Clemson, SC Roberts Nick Main St Clemson SC Roberts Nick Main St Clemson SC

What is XML Schema?  An XML schema defines:  Elements that can appear in a document  Attributes that can appear in a document  Which elements are child elements  The order of child elements  The number of child elements  Whether an element can be null or must include data  Data types for elements and attributes  Default and fixed values for elements and attributes  An XML schema defines:  Elements that can appear in a document  Attributes that can appear in a document  Which elements are child elements  The order of child elements  The number of child elements  Whether an element can be null or must include data  Data types for elements and attributes  Default and fixed values for elements and attributes W3C:

So, What is XML Schema?  A schema describes the structure of an XML document using XML  An XML schema manages the expectations of those sharing an XML document  A schema enforces business constraints and ensures data validation  For example, we can create a standard definition for social security number (data type is string, format=###-##-####, required field, etc.).  A schema describes the structure of an XML document using XML  An XML schema manages the expectations of those sharing an XML document  A schema enforces business constraints and ensures data validation  For example, we can create a standard definition for social security number (data type is string, format=###-##-####, required field, etc.). W3C:

XML Schema Example

What is XSL?  XSL stands for eXtensible Stylesheet Language  Think of XSL as a set of languages that can:  Transform XML into XHTML  Filter and sort XML data  Format XML data based on the data value (e.g. displaying negative numbers in red)  Output XML data to different media (e.g. web browsers, screens, print, or voice)  XSL stands for eXtensible Stylesheet Language  Think of XSL as a set of languages that can:  Transform XML into XHTML  Filter and sort XML data  Format XML data based on the data value (e.g. displaying negative numbers in red)  Output XML data to different media (e.g. web browsers, screens, print, or voice) W3C:

Student Record, Student Record, XSL Example

 Share data across disparate applications, platforms and networks  Abstract periodic data structure changes  Single data source satisfies multiple uses  Aggregate data from multiple sources into one file  Render data from complex queries without latency  Snapshot/Census data captures  Shift database hit to off-peak times  Manage security concerns  Impress those reading your resume  Share data across disparate applications, platforms and networks  Abstract periodic data structure changes  Single data source satisfies multiple uses  Aggregate data from multiple sources into one file  Render data from complex queries without latency  Snapshot/Census data captures  Shift database hit to off-peak times  Manage security concerns  Impress those reading your resume How Can You Use XML?

XML Document XML Workflows Database Schema Validation Stylesheet Transformation XML Document Print Document Web Browser Database XML Application

XML Document XML Workflow Example Database ASP.NET XSL Stylesheet Web Browser XML Generator

XML Multiple Data Sources Oracle SQL Server MS Access DB2

Questions? Comments? Thank You Center for Institutional Effectiveness Kennesaw State University Questions? Comments? Thank You Center for Institutional Effectiveness Kennesaw State University The End Thanks to Nick Roberts for being a dear friend, professional colleague, and valuable contributor to this presentation. Thanks to Randy Hinds for the use of his PowerPoint graphics.