# Presentation: 198518

## XML: Changing the Way SFA Does Business

- Presented by
- Paul Hill
- &
- Holly Hyland

## Introduction/Purpose

- What is XML?
- Why is SFA adopting XML?
- XML Basics and Buzzwords
- XML Benefits
- Adopting XML
- Where to go for more Info
- How to adopt XML: Checklist
- Conclusion and Questions

## What Is XML?

- Definition:
- XML stands for E_**x**_tensible _**M**_arkup _**L**_anguage
-  XML is a** transport device**
-  It is a **meta**-**markup language** much
- 	like HTML
-  XML is **extensible**, which means that
- 	content can be added easily

## What Is XML?

-  XML is a method for putting structured data in
-    a text file
-  XML looks a bit like HTML, but isn’t HTML
-  XML is text, but isn’t meant to be read
-  XML is a family of technologies
-  XML is verbose, but that is not a problem
-  XML is new, but not that new
-  XML is license-free, platform-independent
-    and well-supported

## Why is SFA Adopting XML?

- XML allows schools to use one **Common    **
**  ****Record** between disparate databases or
-   different systems like CommonLine and COD
- XML allows users to **share information**
**  ****seamlessly**
- XML is **future-oriented**
- XML is the standard language of e-business and
-   the Internet
- XML lets the industry describe virtually any
-   type of data and deliver it across a network

## The Flat File

- 12345678919820304Jones                Sally      A531 Tower Drive Apt 3C
-                                                   Alexandria            VA223142021234567Sally.A.Jones@email.org123972VA19820304

## Limitations of Flat Files

- Fixed length
- Not human readable
- Not flexible (can’t add or change elements easily)
- Can’t easily share data across disparate systems
- Record layouts tend to span across many business processes and systems

## What Happens When You Have to Make a Change?

- IT Department

## XML Bridges the Technology Gap

**XML**

**Legacy Systems**

- Standards

- Common Elements

- Transport Mechanism

## XML Basics and Buzzwords 

- Addr

- <Addr>

- </Addr>

- <Addr>431 Simple Street</Addr>

- <Addr Num “1”>431 Simple Street</Addr>

- <Address>						<Addr Num “1”>431 Simple Street</Addr>
- </Address>

- element

- tag

- end tag

- content

- attribute

- complex element

## XML Basics and Buzzwords 

- <Person>
- 	<Name>
- 		<FirstName>Sally</FirstName>
- 		<MiddleInitial>A</MiddleInitial>
- 		<LastName>Jones</LastName>
- 	</Name>
- 	<Contact>
- 		<Address>
- 			<Addr Num=”1”>431 Simple Street</Addr>
- 			<Addr Num=”2”>Apt 700</Addr>
- 			<City>Alexandria</City>
- 			<State>VA</State>
- 			<ZipCode>22314</ZipCode>
- 		</Address>
- 		<Phone>2021234567</Phone>
- 		<Email>Sally.A.Jones@email.org</Email>
- 	</Contact>
- </Person>

- Person Block

## XML Basics and Buzzwords 

- Reusable Block

- <Student>
- 	Person

- </Student>
- <Borrower>
- 	Person

- </Borrower>
- <Cosignor1>
- 	Person
- </Cosignor1>

## XML Basics and Buzzwords 

- Document

*Draft 7/18/01*

## XML Basics and Buzzwords 

**DTD:** Master listing of all the elements including where and how they need to be placed in the documents
**Schema:** An XML application that can describe the allowed content of documents
**Parser:** Tool that reads the document and divides it into individual elements, attributes, and other pieces
**Validation:** Process of checking structural validity of document

## XML Benefits

- Format is human readable easing problem solving
- Format is student-centric, showing data for multiple financial aid programs on a single record
- The entire common record or only those
- 	portions of the common record which
- 	changed can be transmitted
- XML for the Common Record makes it easily changed or extensible

## XML Benefits

- XML is technology-neutral allowing trading partners to use different technologies in their own applications
- XML enabled SFA to work with other data trading partners and standards bodies (CommonLine, NCHELP and PESC) to ensure the common record allows for easy inclusion of other student financial resource data

## XML Benefits

- Lender/Guarantor

- School

- COD

- <LastName>Jones</LastName>
- <FirstName>Sally</FirstName>
-    <FFELSub>
-       <AwardAmt>2625</AwardAmt>
-       <CostofAttend>15000</CostofAttend>
-    </FFELSub>

- <LastName>Jones</LastName>
- <FirstName>Sally</FirstName>
-    <Pell>
-       <AwardAmt>3200</AwardAmt>
-       <CostofAttend>8000</CostofAttend>
-    </Pell>

## XML Benefits

- Technological foundation for future integration initiatives – building the foundation for real time processing.

## Adopting XML:  Where to Go for More Information

- Institutional Solution Providers will develop products that will utilize XML, and should appear seamless to you
- SFA has communicated with software developers and third party servicers on the basic elements of conversion to the XML Common Record to assist their schools
- EDExpress will be modified, probably in
-    2003-2004** **

**Remain calm... but get excited!**

## Adopting XML:  Where to Go for More Information

- The following is a short list of sources for more information on XML:
- http://www.w3.org/
- http://www.ebxml.org/
- http://www.oasis-open.org/cover/sgml-xml.html
- Search on Extensible Markup Language or XML
- Books, publications, and trade articles
- Institutional Solution Providers
- The *Schools Portal* (sfa4schools.sfa.ed.gov) and *IFAP* (ifap.ed.gov) are updated
- 	continually on COD’s development

## Adopting XML:  Where to Go for More Information

- Questions or comments
- can be directed to SFA’s
- Customer Service Call Center at
-  	**(800) 433-7327**
- 	or email us at **sfa.customer.support@ed.gov**
- Customer Service Representatives are available Monday-Friday, 9 am-5pm, Eastern Time

## How to Adopt XML: Checklist

- Talk with the Institution
-    Solution Providers
- Meet with your IT Department
- Consult with your Colleagues
- Start planning for implementation of the common record

## XML: Your Bridge to the Future

*“**And I’m not saying that the work around XML is done.  In fact, you might say it’s just at the beginning, because for every real world object, whether it’s a healthcare record, a banking record, a supply chain dialogue, around every one of those things we need rich standards.  And we need very rich software tools that can map between different schemas, data layouts, map between one version of a schema and another version of a schema.  So the very platform itself has to embrace XML in a very deep way.”*

- Bill Gates,
- Chairman of Microsoft

## Conclusion

**Discussion**