Using XML with Legacy Business Applications

CSV File Grammar

The data types of the columns and other characteristics of the CSV file (that is, the grammar) are described in the Grammar Element. We need to notice an important point, a new aspect of functionality that we are introducing beyond that provided in Chapter 3's basic utility. Because we are describing the grammar of the CSV file, we can also take the opportunity to specify the names of the Elements that we use in the corresponding XML representation. We are no longer restricted to the “Row” and “ColumnXX” Element names that we used in Chapters 2 and 3. While this does add minimal complexity to the processing, it allows us to assign semantically meaningful names to the Elements in the XML document.

Table 7.5 shows the Grammar Element ...