Exporting and importing XML format

Exporting AR System objects in XML

Choosing the AR System XML format (ARXML ) for exported objects produces an XML document that is comparable to the AR System definition file format. It is designed to follow the syntax of the XML specification 1.0.

Specifically, every AR System object type has an associated structure definition in XML, which is specified by the XML Schema Definition (*.xsd ) file. The *.xsd files reside on the AR System server and are used to validate the AR System object definitions as valid XML.

Exported objects in XML format comprise an XML document, which might also be referred to as an instance of a particular XML schema definition for that object. If the XML schema definitions are loaded into an XML editor, someone who is knowledgeable about AR System objects and XML can edit the XML document.

The XML schema definitions are designed to be similar to the definitions in the *.def files. For more information about the XML Schema definitions of AR System objects, see the data structure information in the C API Reference.

AR System XML definition files are used the same way as the classic .def (definition) files. When exporting objects in Developer Studio, you can choose AR XML Definition Files (*.xml ) in the Save as type field of the Export File dialog box. The Import File dialog box works in the same way, allowing you to bring in XML definitions to your AR System server.

Exporting AR System data in XML

To export in XML, create a report in Mid Tier as you normally do. When you run the report or save it to a file, select ARXML as the file type. The data is now ready to be manipulated with your XML editor or imported into your XML-compatible applications.

To import XML data, run Data Import. Open your XML data file by selecting AR XML Files (*.xml ) in the Files of Type field. The other mapping and import steps are the same as previous versions of AR System Import tool.

Using XML with the AR System  API

AR System includes XML schema definitions and API calls that you can use to transform XML and AR System objects. The AR System API calls involving XML are divided into two categories:

• ARGet calls, which transform XML objects into AR System structures.
• ARSet calls, which transform AR System structures into XML objects.

These calls use the AR System API structures that are described in the ar.h file. For more information about the XML API calls, see the Developing-an-API-program.