Editing it the Cheap Way: XML Pro

XML Pro by Vervet Logic is a fine editor without a lot of frills. It is written in Java (and therefore requires JDK or JRE) and runs on Windows or Unix. The interface is simple; the toolbar contains mostly familiar icons. Support for validation against a DTD is quite good. In 1999, Vervet struck a deal with Microstar, so users who need to work with complex DTDs (to add to or modify them) can purchase Near & Far Designer with XML Pro for around $300. Arguably, the main drawback of XML Pro is that it is too simplistic; it would be more useful if more options/preferences could be specified. On the other hand, this may be perfect for someone new to XML who doesn't need a lot of additional choices.

XML Pro v2.0 by Vervet Logic	XML Pro is an expensive XML editor that also parses DTDs. Priced at $150-$175, it also can be purchased in a bundle with Microstar's Near & Far Designer for easy DTD creation. Features include: full W3C XML 1.0 compliance; integration of the IBM XML4J parser; drag and drop; undo; cutting and pasting of elements; ability to change document encoding; view DTD; and Java 2 (JDK 1.2.1) support.
www.vervet.com/product-index.html	Windows 95, 98 or NT, Solaris, Linux only.
Examples/XMLPro1.gif (this link will appear in another window)	Screenshot of WDVL XML example.
Examples/XMLPro2.gif (this link will appear in another window)	Context sensitive editing of the CD element from the WDVL example.

If you examine the screenshot listed in the table, you'll note that (in addition to the toolbar and menubar) there is a document pane which presents a tree view with expandable/collapsable nodes. To the right is an attribute pane which appears when an element has attributes, as is the case with our Peak element which has week and country attributes; you type in the value next to the attribute's name. If the DTD indicates a fixed set of choices for attribute values, a pulldown menu will present the options. Below the attribute pane is the edit pane (obscured by the Attribute Wizard in our screenshot) in which text content can be added.

Because XML Pro parses any DTDs referenced by the XML document, the editor is context sensitive. When you right click on a node in the tree view and then select Add Element from the popup menu, a cascading (pullright) menu displays only those elements which can be children of the selected element. For example, this example shows context sensitive editing of the CD element and the seven possible elements it may contain.

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Editing it the Cheap Way: XML Spy