Overview of XML Utilities Commands

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4D v16.3

XML

This theme groups together the generic XML "utilities" commands of 4D. These are option- and error-management commands as well as commands specialized in XSL.

For general information about XML (overview, glossary) as well as the differences between DOM and SAX modes, please refer to the Overview of XML DOM Commands section.

What is SVG?

SVG (Scalable Vector Graphics) is a file format used to describe vector graphics (extension .svg) in XML. The most common use of SVG is the publication of statistical or mapping data.

These files can be viewed in Web browsers either natively, or via plug-ins. 4D v11 includes an SVG rendering engine that lets you view SVG files in picture fields or variables. The SVG EXPORT TO PICTURE command
can be used to generate a picture in 4D based on an SVG description. Also note that the GRAPH command can be used to take advantage of the integrated SVG engine of 4D.

For more information about this format, please refer to the following address: http://www.w3.org/Graphics/SVG/.

About XSLT commands

Starting with 4D v14 R4, XSL transformation commands are declared obsolete and prefixed accordingly:

Former name	4D v14 R4 and higher
XSLT APPLY TRANSFORMATION	_o_XSLT APPLY TRANSFORMATION
XSLT GET ERROR	_o_XSLT GET ERROR
XSLT SET PARAMETER	_o_XSLT SET PARAMETER

For compatibility, XSL transformations are still supported by 4D but their use is no longer recommended. In future versions of 4D, it will no longer be possible to use XSLT technology.

Note for 4D Server 64-bit version for OS X: XSLT is not included in the 64-bit version of 4D Server for OS X. As a result, executing one of these commands from this application generates an error 33, "Unimplemented command or function".

To replace XSLT technology in your databases, 4D provides two solutions:

Using equivalent PHP functions available in the libxslt module, which is installed in 4D beginning with version 14.2. 4D provides a specific document to help you use PHP's XSL to replace 4D's XSLT commands: Download the "XSLT with PHP" document (PDF)

Using the means provided by the PROCESS 4D TAGS command, whose capabilities have been expanded considerably starting with 4D v14 R4.