validator Workbench
The validator Workbench is our editor for CLiX business rules for
XML validation. With its graphical notation it enables users to quickly assemble rules from building blocks,
cutting time spent programming or dealing with XML technicalities like namespaces.
Graphical Rule Editor
The editor provides support for CLiX validation rules. Rules can be rapidly assembled in an
intuitive graphical notation, and are loaded from and saved to an XML format. The screenshot on the right shows the
rule editing screen of the workbench - click to enlarge.
The rules use XPath to access elements elements for validation. The workbench removes the need to write XPaths
by hand, by providing a powerful path editor - users simply select elements in documents. Expert users can type
paths manually and check the result.
Additional Features:
- "Post-it" style comments on rules, to facilitate collaboration
- ECMAScript scripting for more complex rules
- Integration with CVS version control through eclipse
- Full integrity check flags errors in rules
Rule Testing
When a rule is complete, it must be tested. The workbench adds comprehensive support for rule tests.
The impact analysis feature tells users which document elements are accessed by a rule,
and the execution feature simulates a run of the rule and reports broken elements.
The screenshot shows the impact analysis in action.
Rule Management and Query
How do you apply a subset of rules to your documents? How do you "pix and mix" rules to form new collections of rules?
How do you manage which documents get validated? You use rule sets. See the screenshot.
As soon as you find yourself with hundreds of rules in your workspace, rule management becomes an issue. The rule
query feature helps you to find your rules, enabling you to search by element name.
Validate Against Databases
Is the currency in this document in the currency table? Is there a customer record for the customer
listed in this XML document? Nothing is easier than writing a rule against a relational database
using the Workbench Professional. The adapters shipped with the workbench make the process transparent -
import the database data dynamically using an adapter and write your rule as normal.
Web Publication
In a team where people collaborate, you will want to publish your rules easily and quickly.
The Workbench Professional comes with a web preview panel and a web export feature that will
publish your rules as HTML using a single mouse click. You can then share them on the
intranet or e-mail them.
Take a look at a sample page.
Batch Validation and XML Schema Validation
The Workbench can be used to run a batch check of users' rules against collections of documents.
Users simply select rules from rule sets or CLiX files, and the check results are displayed in
real-time in the xlinkit execution "perspective". Rules and documents are grouped together in
rule execution configurations and checks can be managed and rapidly re-executed with a single mouse click.
During batch execution, users can optionally specify XML Schemas to be applied to documents, providing a
full schema and rule validation solution for XML.
Additional Features:
- Result display points to offending document elements using Systemwire's patented "consistency link" generation technology
- XML reports in result view
- Execution configuration management - rapid re-checking of previously set up checks
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