[CQ-Contest] XML Contest File Standard Discussion

[Joe Subich, K4IK]

> It just seems to me that the world is going XML and maybe ham 
> radio should be too.  Of course we would all have to agree on 
> the definitions.  It seems to me that XML files make sense to 
> the world wide community of hams since it is becoming a 
> datafile standard.

There is nothing wrong with XML.  However, ADIF for all its faults 
does the job reasonably well at the present time.  Some of the 
proposed extensions in ADIF 2.0 (e.g, the <APP_xxxxxx:nn> 
syntax for application specific fields) already in use by LotW 
and several of the logging programs, have provided additional 
capabilities.  Still, ADIF is rooted in xBase technology.  

If you really feel XML is necessary as opposed to continued 
improvements to the ADIF standards, then I would suggest you 
propose (and justify!) a new standard (ADIF 3.x?) based on XML. 
I'm sure the software folks at ARRL/LotW could direct you to 
any ADIF working groups.  

You will need show a significant return on investment to convince 
all the software writers to abandon the xBase derived ADIF standards 
and undertake the coding necessary to implement a new interface spec. 

73, 

   ... Joe, K4IK