XML was considered when the Cabrillo format was being conceived, but was
considered by ARRL as being too difficult for the average ham do-it-yourself
software developer to handle. It also has the disadvantage of being
difficult to open the file and read/scan by eye.
The conversation is somewhat moot. It has taken a long time for Cabrillo to
become fully accepted and understood by contests everywhere. Since it is
accomplishing its mission, I don't see much motivation to go through the
process again.
Randy, K5ZD
> -----Original Message-----
> From: cq-contest-bounces@contesting.com
> [mailto:cq-contest-bounces@contesting.com]On Behalf Of Ward Willats
> Sent: Tuesday, April 13, 2004 14:14 PM
> To: cq-contest@contesting.com
> Subject: Re: [CQ-Contest] XML File conversion for Contest Software
>
>
> >xml would be my preference for all log data. it has the advantages of
> >being a world wide supported data transfer method. it has built in
> >parsing, searching, import/export and all sorts of other tools for modern
> >development languages and databases. it has data integrity and
> definition
> >capabilities way beyond adif or cabrillo. it has flexibility way, way,
> >beyond either adif or cabrillo or any other popular log format.
> it can be
> >used on virtually any modern operating system and some browsers actually
> >will display it directly, though not always in the most friendly
> way. the
> >advantages today way overshadow the one disadvantage that i can
> see of the
> >files being a bit larger than other formats that are hard coded into
> >software or defined by punch card style columnar formats.
> >
>
> Amen. Amen. Amen.
>
> For example, I wrote my own logging software in PHP for use on my web
> site. Because ADIF is the lingua-franca in the ham community, if I
> want to export my log to LOTW (say) I have to write my own MySQL to
> ADIF routines (which I have almost completed and will make available
> shortly).
>
> An XML format would have let me pick from half a dozen parser/writers
> to do this and I would have finished this task in half an afternoon.
>
> Plus, when you actually try to code to the ADIF "spec" you realize it
> is a half-specified hack that everyone interprets different subsets
> of. You wind up wishing for the XML-style "grammar" provided by a
> DTD, Schema or Relax spec so completeness and correctness can be
> verified _automatically_.
>
> There is no telling what new applications would emerge from being
> able to easily incorporate XML QSO data into other applications.
> Propagation, contest analysis, band utilization patterns, impacts of
> BPL, the list goes on... As it is, ADIF and Cabrillo are ridiculous
> provincial walled-gardens.
>
> -- Ward / KG6HAF
>
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