Exporting and importing data and definitions from XML

To prepare to import AR System objects or data from an XML file, you must first export them to an XML file.

When you choose the AR System XML format (ARXML ) for exported objects, you get an XML document similar to the AR System definition file format. It is designed to follow the syntax of the XML specification 1.0.

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.

Related topics

Exporting-the-source-data

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 in the same way as the classic .def (definition) files.

To export objects

  1. Log in to Developer Studio. 
  2. Select the file that you want to export. 
  3. In the Save as type field, select AR XML Definition Files (*.xml).

Important

The Import File dialog box works in the same way, allowing you to import the XML definitions to your AR System server.

To export AR System data to XML

  1. Log in to Mid Tier. 
  2. Navigate to the AR Systemreports.
  3. Create a report in Mid Tier.
  4. Select ARXML as the file type when you run the report or save it to a file.
    The data is ready to be manipulated in your XML editor or imported into your XML-compatible applications.

Important

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 rest of the steps to map and import data are the same as previous versions of AR System Import tool. For information about Data Import tool, see Importing-data-into-forms-by-using-Data-Import.

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.

 

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