From: james@...
Date: 2002-06-05T00:50:54+09:00
Subject: RE: HTML Parser suggestions wanted

>
> I've written an HTML parser that builds trees from HTML source. After
> I wrote it, I discovered REXML, which does the same thing for XML.

I started looking at your parser (thanks!)  and wanted to load the
resulting HTML into REXML.
>
> Then I made an add-on that uses REXML's XPath support to do XPath
> queries on the resultant HTML tree. In my test version, these queries
> return REXML tree elements, rather than my HTML tree elements.

.. and then I wanted to do XPath queries.  So far, so good!

>
> Having two very similar tree structures (HTML and REXML) smells, to
> me. The fact that they have somewhat different APIs confuses even me.
>
> What I'm wondering (and would like your input on):
>
> 1. Should I just require REXML and not bother with my own tree
> elements? I could, after all, just build a REXML document instead.
> This has the disadvantage of requiring yet another package to be
> installed, though.

True, but REXML is part of the Windows PragProg install, and it's quick and
easy to install from source, anyway.

>
> 2. If I don't build an REXML tree, I could still return my own
> elements from XPath queries. That is, I could use REXML transparently
> and not expose the user to any of REXML's elements. Would this be a
> preferable way to provide XPath support?

Wouldn't REXML still need to be installed?

BTW, quick question: Is there any documentation (aside form the terse API
docs) about your parser?  Is there a way to grab the parsed HTML and assign
it to a string?  All I've seen is how to write to a file.

Thanks,

James

>
> Thanks,
> --
> Ned Konz
> http://bike-nomad.com/ruby/
> GPG key ID: BEEA7EFE
>
>