The proper tool for transforming XML into HTML is XSLT.

There is no such thing as "the proper tool" without context. In many (possibly most) situations, XSLT may be the best way to go. However, in several easy cases I can think of, converting the XML straight to HTML would be disastrous. You're assuming that the XML contains all the information needed for the webpage and simply needs transformed. If that was the case, you are probably correct.

However, if the data needs to be merged with another datasource, such as another XML file, then you would be horribly offbase. XSLT may be able to do that, but it certainly would not be the proper tool for that endeavor.

I would have answered that XSLT is one option, depending on your situation. And, then, answered the question, which was "How do I improve the maintainability of twelve scripts that are nearly identical, save for the XML specification used?"

------
We are the carpenters and bricklayers of the Information Age.

Then there are Damian modules.... *sigh* ... that's not about being less-lazy -- that's about being on some really good drugs -- you know, there is no spoon. - flyingmoose

I shouldn't have to say this, but any code, unless otherwise stated, is untested

In reply to Re^2: one script, not twelve nearly identical ones! by dragonchild
in thread one script, not twelve nearly identical ones! by drewbert

Title:
Use:  <p> text here (a paragraph) </p>
and:  <code> code here </code>
to format your post, it's "PerlMonks-approved HTML":


  • Posts are HTML formatted. Put <p> </p> tags around your paragraphs. Put <code> </code> tags around your code and data!
  • Titles consisting of a single word are discouraged, and in most cases are disallowed outright.
  • Read Where should I post X? if you're not absolutely sure you're posting in the right place.
  • Please read these before you post! —
  • Posts may use any of the Perl Monks Approved HTML tags:
    a, abbr, b, big, blockquote, br, caption, center, col, colgroup, dd, del, details, div, dl, dt, em, font, h1, h2, h3, h4, h5, h6, hr, i, ins, li, ol, p, pre, readmore, small, span, spoiler, strike, strong, sub, summary, sup, table, tbody, td, tfoot, th, thead, tr, tt, u, ul, wbr
  • You may need to use entities for some characters, as follows. (Exception: Within code tags, you can put the characters literally.)
            For:     Use:
    & &amp;
    < &lt;
    > &gt;
    [ &#91;
    ] &#93;
  • Link using PerlMonks shortcuts! What shortcuts can I use for linking?
  • See Writeup Formatting Tips and other pages linked from there for more info.