Preface

XML, the eXtensible Markup Language, has become one of the most relevant standards and a driving force for Web applications. As of Natural Version 4 for mainframes , XML documents can be created, processed and made available. Because complete highly nested XML documents can be very large, Natural's data-definition and data-manipulation capabilities have been extended with large (up to one gigabyte) and dynamic variables.

This Document

The XML Toolkit provides Natural with XML document processing capabilities. A Natural data definition can be generated from an XML Document Type Definition (DTD), and vice versa. The content of a Natural variable can be serialized into an XML document. And an XML document can be parsed into a Natural variable.

This document describes an example application that demonstrates the use of XML within a Natural-for-Mainframes environment without external program parts.

The following topics are covered:

Introduction

Using the XML Toolkit

Setting Up Specific Generation Options

Using a Natural Data Source

Using an external Data Source

Natural Simple XML Parser

Examples

XML Parser Error Messages

Specifications contained herein are subject to change and these changes will be reported in subsequent release notes and new editions.