Efficient extensible markup language namespace parsing for editing

• US 20060136814A1
• Filed: 12/20/2004
• Published: 06/22/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 12/20/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Microsoft Technology Licensing LLC (Microsoft Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Microsoft Corporation
• Inventors: Spada, Peter
• Granted Patent: US 7,546,526 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 715/235
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 40/131 Fragmentation of text files, e.g. creating reusable text-blocks; Linking to fragments, e.g. using XInclude; Namespaces
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 40/143 Markup, e.g. Standard Generalized Markup Language [SGML] or Document Type Definition [DTD]

Abstract

Methods and computer products provide for an efficient XML namespace analysis and parsing. Extensible Markup Language (XML) structure of an XML document is passed through an XML parser as plain text, and the result is an internal data structure that represents the XML. The XML parser keeps track of all mappings of prefixes-to-namespaces as it is parsing the tree of XML tags in the text. A design tool application may be use to modify the parsed data structure by moving XML tags to different locations, by adding new XML tags, or by deleting XML tags. After modifications are complete, and the user wants to save a file, the XML may be re-written as text. The mappings of prefixes-to-namespaces are advantageous during output so that each XML tag is associated with the correct prefix.

Claims

1. A method for efficiently managing XML namespaces associated with an Extensible Markup Language (XML) document, comprising:

receiving an XML document;

parsing the XML document for locating one or more XML tags applied to the document;

parsing the one or more XML tags to determine a prefix and a namespace associated with the one or more XML tags;

building a namespace table for mapping a prefix for each of the one or more XML tags to a namespace for each of the one or more XML tags; and

building an XML output array whereby the output array provides an identification for each of the one or more XML tags, a namespace identification for each of the one or more XML tags, and a pointer to a namespace table for each of the one or more XML tags, the namespace table for pointing to a prefix-to-namespace relationship for each of the one or more XML tags.

2. The method of claim 1, prior to building a namespace table for mapping a prefix for each of the one or more XML tags to a namespace for each of the one or more XML tags building an XML tags array whereby the array is comprised of a cell for each XML tag parsed from the XML document, and whereby each cell represents an object associated with a given XML tag.

3. The method of claim 1, whereby building a namespace table for mapping a prefix for each of the one or more XML tags to a namespace for each of the one or more XML tags includes building a namespace table for as many different namespaces as are registered for the XML document.

4. The method of claim 1, whereby building a namespace table for mapping a prefix for each of the one or more XML tags to a namespace for each of the one or more XML tags includes building a namespace table containing multiple mappings of a one tag prefix to different namespaces.

5. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

allowing modification of tags contained in the XML output array; and

if the XML document is written to text after any modification of tags contained in the XML output array, applying the modification of tags contained in the XML output array to the XML document when the XML document is written to text.

6. The method of claim 5, whereby allowing modification of tags contained in the XML output array includes allowing the addition of one or more new XML tags to the XML output array.

7. The method of claim 5, whereby allowing modification of tags contained in the XML output array includes allowing the deletion of one or more XML tags from the XML output array.

8. The method of claim 5, whereby allowing modification of tags contained in the XML output array includes allowing the movement of one or more XML tags from one location in the XML output array to another location in the XML output array.

9. A method for efficiently managing XML namespaces associated with an Extensible Markup Language (XML) document, comprising:

receiving an XML document;

parsing the XML document for locating one or more XML tags applied to the document;

parsing the one or more XML tags to determine a prefix and a namespace associated with the one or more XML tags;

building a namespace table for as many different namespaces as are registered for the XML document, and mapping a prefix for each XML tag in the XML document to a namespace;

building an XML output array whereby the output array provides an identification for each of the one or more XML tags, a namespace identification for each of the one or more XML tags, and a pointer to a namespace table for each of the one or more XML tags, the namespace table for pointing to a prefix-to-namespace relationship for each of the one or more XML tags;

allowing modification of tags contained in the XML output array; and

upon rewriting the parsed XML document to text after allowing modification of tags contained in the XML output array, utilizing the XML output array for ensuring that each XML tag in the written to text XML document is matched to a correct XML tag prefix.

10. The method of claim 9, prior to building a namespace table for mapping a prefix for each of the one or more XML tags to a namespace for each of the one or more XML tags building an XML tags array whereby the array is comprised of a cell for each XML tag parsed from the XML document, and whereby each cell represents an object associated with a given XML tag.

11. The method of claim 9, whereby building a namespace table for as many different namespaces as are registered for the XML document, and mapping a prefix for each XML tag in the XML document to a namespace, includes building a namespace table containing multiple mappings of a one tag prefix to different namespaces.

12. The method of claim 9, further comprising:

if the XML document is written to text after any modification of tags contained in the XML output array, applying the modification of tags contained in the XML output array to the XML document when the XML document is written to text.

13. A computer-readable medium on which is stored computer-executable instructions which when executed by a computer perform a method for efficiently managing XML namespaces associated with an Extensible Markup Language (XML) document, comprising:

receiving an XML document;

parsing the XML document for locating one or more XML tags applied to the document;

parsing the one or more XML tags to determine a prefix and a namespace associated with the one or more XML tags;

building a namespace table for mapping a prefix for each of the one or more XML tags to a namespace for each of the one or more XML tags; and

building an XML output array whereby the output array provides an identification for each of the one or more XML tags, a namespace identification for each of the one or more XML tags, and a pointer to a namespace table for each of the one or more XML tags, the namespace table for pointing to a prefix-to-namespace relationship for each of the one or more XML tags.

14. The computer-readable medium of claim 13, prior to building a namespace table for mapping a prefix for each of the one or more XML tags to a namespace for each of the one or more XML tags building an XML tags array whereby the array is comprised of a cell for each XML tag parsed from the XML document, and whereby each cell represents an object associated with a given XML tag.

15. The computer-readable medium of claim 13, whereby building a namespace table for mapping a prefix for each of the one or more XML tags to a namespace for each of the one or more XML tags includes building a namespace table for as many different namespaces as are registered for the XML document.

16. The computer-readable medium of claim 13, whereby building a namespace table for mapping a prefix for each of the one or more XML tags to a namespace for each of the one or more XML tags includes building a namespace table containing multiple mappings of a one tag prefix to different namespaces.

17. The computer-readable medium of claim 13, further comprising:

allowing modification of tags contained in the XML output array; and

if the XML document is written to text after any modification of tags contained in the XML output array, applying any modification of tags contained in the XML output array to the XML document when the XML document is written to text.

18. The computer-readable medium of claim 17, whereby allowing modification of tags contained in the XML output array includes allowing the addition of one or more new XML tags to the XML output array.

19. The computer-readable medium of claim 17, whereby allowing modification of tags contained in the XML output array includes allowing the deletion of one or more XML tags from the XML output array.

20. The computer-readable medium of claim 17, whereby allowing modification of tags contained in the XML output array includes allowing the movement of one or more XML tags from one location in the XML output array to another location in the XML output array.