# Presentation: 721824

## XML 101

- Holly Hyland

**Session 27**

## Objectives

- XML Basics
- Building Standards
- History
- Current State
- Future Vision

## What Is XML?

- eXtensible Markup Language
- Internet document language
- Open source
- Free
- Non-proprietary
- Supported by world wide web consortium (W3C)

## XML Advantages

- Easy to understand and use
- Already has a large base of users and support tools
- New browser versions understand XML
- Wide industry interest and support

## Flat File Example

- 0405298927382 03 1979Sally             ASmith                       0203INDL2222222        FP   417 Halper Road         Fort Wayne
- IN46807Allen                 USA2197446947    _[sally.smith@veryspeedy.net](mailto:sally.smith@veryspeedy.net)_         1221784902

## XML Example

- <Student SSN=“298927382”  BirthDate=“1979-02-03” LastName=“Smith”>
- <Identifiers>
- <DriversLicense>
- <DriversLicenseState>IN</DriversLicenseState>
- <DriversLicenseNumber>DL2222222</DriversLicenseNumber>
- </DriversLicense>
- <Name>
- 	 <FirstName>Sally</FirstName>
-      <MiddleInitial>A</MiddleInitial>
- </Name>
- <Contacts>
- <AddressLine>417 Hapler Road</AddressLine>
- <AddressCity>Fort Wayne</AddressCity>
- <AddressStateProvinceCode>IN</AddressStateProvinceCode>
- <AddressPostalCode>46807</AddressPostalCode>
- </Contacts>

## XML Advantages

- Data files are machine-and human-readable
- You don’t need to read it, but you could
- The entire document, or portions of the record, can be transmitted
- Data elements can be omitted and order is less important
- Additional information can be easily added
- Schemas can reference other schemas

## XML Characteristics

- Uses tags “<>” and “</>”
- Structured: document must have beginning and end. Elements must have beginning and end tags
- Helps reduce ambiguity
- Easier to find errors

## Potential Uses

- Enhanced Browser capabilities
- “Smart searches”
-  Web databases
- Better control of output
- Application to Application document transfer
- XML based e-commerce

## web.xsl

**<STUDENTID  type = “SSN”> **
**  ****123456789 **
**</STUDENTID>**
**<DEMOGRAPHIC>**
**  ****<BIRTH DATE type=“DATE”>**
**    ****19740823**
**  ****</BIRTH DATE>**
**  ****<GENDER>**
**    ****M**
**  ****</GENDER>**
**</DEMOGRAPHIC>**
**<GRADE_REPORT>****	**
**  ****<SESSION Code=”!199901”>**
**    ****<LABEL>**
**      ****SPRING SESSION**
**    ****</LABEL>**
**    ****<YEAR type=”CCYY”>**
**      ****1999**
**    ****</YEAR>**
**  ****<COURSE index=”1”>**
**    ****<CREDIT type=”hours>**
**      ****4**
**    ****</CREDIT>**
**    ****<GRADE>**
**      ****A**
**    ****</GRADE>**
**    ****<CODE>**
**      ****SPN 406 **
**    ****</CODE>**
**    ****<COURSE_TITLE>****	**
**      ****SPANISH I**
**    ****</COURSE_TITLE>**
**  ****</COURSE>**
**  ****<COURSE index=”2”>**
**    ****<CREDIT type=”hours>**
**      ****3**
**    ****</CREDIT>**
**    ****<GRADE>**
**      ****B**
**    ****</GRADE>**
**    ****<CODE>**
**      ****HIS 302 **
**    ****</CODE>**
**    ****<COURSE_TITLE>****	**
**      ****TX HISTORY**
**    ****</COURSE_TITLE>**
**  ****</COURSE>**** **

- pda.xsl

- edi.xsd

## Why Use XML for Educational Records?

- Share information seamlessly and easily
- Cost savings
- “Off the shelf” tools are coming to market
- Technology-neutral
- Joins different databases or systems
- Smaller institutions can adopt

## XML Terms

- DTD: Master listing of all the elements, including where and how they need to be placed in the documents

## XML Terms (Continued)

- Schema: An XML application that can describe the allowed content of documents
- Validation: Process of checking structural validity of document
- Instance Document: A listing of all possible tags
- XML Example Document: A listing of tags with example data

## XML Terms (continued)

- XSL, XSLT: Converts an XML file into a another specified format
- Parser: Tool that reads the document and divides it into individual elements, attributes, and other pieces

## FSA Business Needs

- Reduce redundant data storage
- Improve customer relationships
- Increase accuracy of analytics
- Increase efficiency in data handling
- Reduce costs

## The Common Record

- First implementation by FSA
- Used for Student Financial Aid Pell Grant, Direct Loan, and Campus-Based Aid
- XML Schema published November 2001; implementation May 2002

## Common Record Expansion

- ORIGINAL VISION:  Use XML Technology to create financial aid data packet standards.

**Financial Aid Office**

**ISIR**

**FFEL**

**PELL**

**DL**

## Common Record Expansion

- REVISED VISION:  Use XML Technology to create higher education or cross-industry data packet standards.

**Educational Institution**

**Admissions**

**Registrars**

**Financial Aid**

## Common Record Expansion

**Educational Institution**

**AddressLine**
**AddressCity**

**Admissions**

**Registrars**

**Financial Aid**

**AddressLine**
**AddressCity**

**AddressLine**
**AddressCity**

**AddressLine**
**AddressCity**

## Common Record ExpansionConvergence of Standards

## Importance of Standards

- Every year it becomes more expensive to upgrade systems
- Every organization is expected to do more with less
- Standards make training easier
- Reduce change for the sake of change
- Make cross-training easier

## Common Record – XML Benefits

- XML is a meta-language -- allows trading partners to develop markup languages.
- XML is hierarchical in nature -- can represent more complex relationships.
- XML blocks can be repeated -- making information sharing more flexible.
- XML schemas define advanced relationships that are not possible in standard flat files.*

## Development Initiatives in Process

- Request/Response of XML Postsecondary Transcript
- Request/Response of Degree Audit
- Online Loan Counseling
- High School XML Transcript
- Data Transport
- Student Aid Inquiry
- Admission Application

## Vision/Where Are We Going?

- Members of the community have come together to build an XML standard for higher education.

## Questions?

- I appreciate your feedback and comments.  I can be reached at:
- Name: Holly A. Hyland
- Phone: 202.377.3710
- Email: Holly.Hyland@ed.gov