From: Ross Shaw <rshaw1961@...>
Date: 2001-11-29T21:54:16+09:00
Subject: [ruby-talk:26885] Re: Anyone know of a Regexp pattern random string generator?


"Pierre-Charles David" wrote in

>
>     Ross> This is intended to be part of a larger system that given an
>     Ross> XML schema would produce a valid XML file - I am looking at
>     Ross> using this to produce random input test files (and their
>     Ross> expected output files) to test a transformation engine with
>     Ross> a sample of all possible inputs.
>
> I don't really understand why you need/want to use regexps for this...
>

XML Schema allows for a "pattern" facet against an element or attribute to
validate only if it matches the pattern. This pattern facet is essentially a
regular expression.

> Anyway, there is something similar on IBM's alphaworks site. It's
> called 'XML Generator' and seems to works with DTDs instead of
> Schemas, but maybe it could still be useful or give you ideas:
>

I'm aware of this but as DTD's do not specify anything about what you put in
an element its not really appropriate.

Also I am wanting to generate not only the XML input file to the
transformation but also the output file - which could be fixed or delimited.
This is for the purpose of unit testing the transformation.

Ross