XML attributes advice

[metcala]

Hey guys,

I was wondering if anyone could give me a little bit of advice. I'm working on a project in which a user will enter details in a form and based on a couple of parameters a schedule will be returned. I was planning on using an XML document to store various schedules and using javascript to return the appropriate plan. I just wanted to know if this is a logical way to approach this?

I've put a really quick example of the different elements I'm thinking. So for example the user would select Biology at level 1 in the initial form and a revision plan would be returned. Going forward I want to keep it flexible in how it can be returned so for example within week 1 the days can be swapped around (so people can sort their revision plan to suit themselves).

<?xml version="1.0" encoding="utf-8"?>
<plan>
	<subject category="Biology">	
		<study level="1">
			<week number="1">
				<day number="1">
					<session_description>Topic 1</session_description>
				</day>
			</week>
		</study>
	</subject>
</plan>

I'd be grateful if you could let me know what you think! Thanks guys, I really appreciate it!

[Alex Vincent]

Originally Posted by metcala

I was planning on using an XML document to store various schedules and using javascript to return the appropriate plan. I just wanted to know if this is a logical way to approach this?

First impression: Ask yourself the question: "Why not use a combination of PHP and MySQL?"

Generic XML is one of those technologies that you really need a good reason to use. What you're talking about sounds more like a database, which XML is poorly suited for. Its wordiness works against you.

XML is okay for transferring the information, but even raw data like this might be better off in JSON.

[metcala]

Hi Alex,

Thanks for the quick reply! I don't really have any experience in MySQL I've just had a look into it and seems like something I could probably get to grips with. Thanks again for your response, definitely seems like a much more logical approach!