converting text files to xml

Basically, you want to split the text file into smaller and smaller chunks
using string methods, and then map the contents at each level to XML tags.
For example, the content within each set of parentheses appears to describe
a set of controls, so you might start by outputing a <controls> element to
contain all the controls. Next, read the content up to the first opening
parenthesis, and write a <control> tag.

The content within each set of parentheses consists of items delimited by
line terminators. Each line is a name/value pair. It looks like those are
separated by tabs, but I can't tell from your example. At any rate, the
process would be, read the line, extract the name and use that as the XML
element name, write the opening tag, extract the value, write that and then
close the tag. Repeat that until you encounter the closing parenthesis that
marks the end of each control. When you find that close the <control> tag.
<controls>
<control>
<type>:text-field</type>
<name>DirectoryPathField</name>
<owner>ControlArea</owner>
<x>5</x>
<y>5</y>
etc.
</control>

repeat to end of file.

</controls>

<xml.@127.0.0.1> wrote in message news:3e4122b7$1@tnews.web.devx.com...
>
> Please help, I have no clue where or how to start.
>
> I have to convert the below text file into xml and i have no clue how to.
>
> The description file refers to handlers like:
>
> FileNameNotify
> LoadButtonNotify
> ImageMagnificationNotify
> ColorApplyButtonNotify
> ColorResetButtonNotify
> QuitButtonNotify
>
> You can represent these simply by a function/method taking no
> parameters
> but printing out its own name to standard output when called.
>
>
> ========= Description file ================
> (
> :type :text-field
> :name DirectoryPathField
> :owner ControlArea
> :x 5
> :y 5
> :width 160
> :height 32
> :foreground-color ""
> :text-type :alphanumeric
> :label "Directory path :"
> :label-type :string
> :value-x 5
> :value-y 22
> :layout-type :vertical
> :value-length 20
> :stored-length 150
> :read-only nil
> :notify-handler nil
> )
> (
> :type :text-field
> :name FileNameField
> :owner ControlArea
> :x 5
> :y 45
> :width 165
> :height 32
> :foreground-color ""
> :text-type :alphanumeric
> :label "Image source file name:"
> :label-type :string
> :value-x 5
> :value-y 62
> :layout-type :vertical
> :value-length 20
> :stored-length 80
> :read-only nil
> :notify-handler FileNameNotify
> )
> (
> :type :button
> :name LoadButton
> :owner ControlArea
> :x 10
> :y 85
> :constant-width nil
> :button-type :normal
> :width 51
> :height 19
> :foreground-color ""
> :label "LOAD"
> :label-type :string
> :menu nil
> :notify-handler LoadButtonNotify
> )
> (
> :type :text-field
> :name LoadAmountField
> :owner ControlArea
> :x 70
> :y 85
> :width 96
> :height 15
> :foreground-color ""
> :text-type :alphanumeric
> :label ""
> :label-type :string
> :value-x 70
> :value-y 85
> :layout-type :horizontal
> :value-length 12
> :stored-length 80
> :read-only nil
> :notify-handler nil
> )
> (
> :type :message
> :name MagnificationHeader
> :owner ControlArea
> :x 5
> :y 110
> :width 173
> :height 13
> :foreground-color ""
> :label "--Image Magnification--"
> :label-type :string
> )
> (
> :type :text-field
> :name ImageMagnificationField
> :owner ControlArea
> :x 5
> :y 130
> :width 167
> :height 15
> :foreground-color ""
> :text-type :alphanumeric
> :label "Scale:"
> :label-type :string
> :value-x 52
> :value-y 130
> :layout-type :horizontal
> :value-length 15
> :stored-length 80
> :read-only nil
> :notify-handler ImageMagnificationNotify
> )
> (
> :type :message
> :name ColorBoxHeader
> :owner ControlArea
> :x 5
> :y 160
> :width 172
> :height 13
> :foreground-color ""
> :label "--Colour Box Selection--"
> :label-type :string
> )
> (
> :type :text-field
> :name RedLoField
> :owner ControlArea
> :x 5
> :y 180
> :width 72
> :height 15
> :foreground-color ""
> :text-type :alphanumeric
> :label "RLo:"
> :label-type :string
> :value-x 41
> :value-y 180
> :layout-type :horizontal
> :value-length 4
> :stored-length 10
> :read-only nil
> :notify-handler nil
> )
> (
> :type :text-field
> :name RedHiField
> :owner ControlArea
> :x 100
> :y 180
> :width 71
> :height 15
> :foreground-color ""
> :text-type :alphanumeric
> :label "RHI:"
> :label-type :string
> :value-x 135
> :value-y 180
> :layout-type :horizontal
> :value-length 4
> :stored-length 10
> :read-only nil
> :notify-handler nil
> )
> (
> :type :text-field
> :name GreenLoField
> :owner ControlArea
> :x 5
> :y 200
> :width 72
> :height 15
> :foreground-color ""
> :text-type :alphanumeric
> :label "GLo:"
> :label-type :string
> :value-x 41
> :value-y 200
> :layout-type :horizontal
> :value-length 4
> :stored-length 10
> :read-only nil
> :notify-handler nil
> )
> (
> :type :text-field
> :name GreenHiField
> :owner ControlArea
> :x 100
> :y 200
> :width 71
> :height 15
> :foreground-color ""
> :text-type :alphanumeric
> :label "GHi:"
> :label-type :string
> :value-x 135
> :value-y 200
> :layout-type :horizontal
> :value-length 4
> :stored-length 10
> :read-only nil
> :notify-handler nil
> )
> (
> :type :text-field
> :name BlueLoField
> :owner ControlArea
> :x 4
> :y 220
> :width 72
> :height 15
> :foreground-color ""
> :text-type :alphanumeric
> :label "BLo:"
> :label-type :string
> :value-x 40
> :value-y 220
> :layout-type :horizontal
> :value-length 4
> :stored-length 10
> :read-only nil
> :notify-handler nil
> )
> (
> :type :text-field
> :name BlueHiField
> :owner ControlArea
> :x 100
> :y 220
> :width 71
> :height 15
> :foreground-color ""
> :text-type :alphanumeric
> :label "BHi:"
> :label-type :string
> :value-x 135
> :value-y 220
> :layout-type :horizontal
> :value-length 4
> :stored-length 10
> :read-only nil
> :notify-handler nil
> )
> (
> :type :button
> :name ColorboxApplyButton
> :owner ControlArea
> :x 5
> :y 250
> :constant-width nil
> :button-type :normal
> :width 56
> :height 19
> :foreground-color ""
> :label "APPLY"
> :label-type :string
> :menu nil
> :notify-handler ColorApplyButtonNotify
> )
> (
> :type :button
> :name ColorResetButton
> :owner ControlArea
> :x 100
> :y 250
> :constant-width nil
> :button-type :normal
> :width 55
> :height 19
> :foreground-color ""
> :label "RESET"
> :label-type :string
> :menu nil
> :notify-handler ColorResetButtonNotify
> )
> (
> :type :message
> :name ContourHeader
> :owner ControlArea
> :x 5
> :y 290
> :width 174
> :height 13
> :foreground-color ""
> :label "---Contour Extraction---"
> :label-type :string
> )
> (
> :type :button
> :name QuitButton
> :owner ControlArea
> :x 55
> :y 520
> :constant-width nil
> :button-type :normal
> :width 135
> :height 19
> :foreground-color ""
> :label "QUIT APPLICATION"
> :label-type :string
> :menu nil
> :notify-handler QuitButtonNotify
> )
> )
> ====== End of Description file ============
>
> Please help
>
>