| XML, the other markup language, is used by many server-side applications to handle complex datasets. Recent additions include Web services and RSS feeds. While we can write our own XML files for certain applications and determine how we want to parse XML, RSS feeds and Web services have a given XML file structure, for which we need to write a parser. The XML object was first introduced in Flash 5, but at that time did not get as much attention. Parsing XML in Flash 5 was harder because white space had to be considered for the parser. With the introduction of dynamic loading of objects such as images and audio in Flash MX, and the introduction of the ignoreWhite Boolean, which eliminates the white space during parsing of XML, the use of XML as a data-holding tool became more fashionable. This allowed the development of XML-driven slideshows and MP3 players, to mention some applications. An advantage of XML is that, without opening and compiling the original Flash movie, we can update the application by adding or removing data. While this is also possible with simple text files, it is clear that complex data can be much more logically structured using XML. In Flash MX2004 many Flash components that use XML as a data source have been introduced.
As to which XML books can be recommended, I once read a comment that parsing XML depends on the individual application and is in many cases unique. This would make books that specifically focus on parsing XML in Flash unnecessary. I disagree, because there is a certain methodology that can be used and learned to access every piece of data in an XML file and create virtual XML files using Flash ActionScript. The existence of predetermined XML files from RSS feeds, Web services, and large data banks and the use of XML in components justifies specific literature that focuses on XML parsing. |
