How to Write a Paper in XML Format

Writing a paper in proper XML style avoids receiving errors from any program that uses XML to import and read the data. You can create an XML file in a plain-text editor such as Windows Notepad or a third-party application. You must know the basic formatting procedures to create a properly formatted XML file.

Instructions

1. Click the Windows "Start" button and select "All Programs." Click "Accessories," then click "Notepad" to start the editor.

2. Add the XML version and encoding tag at the top of the file. This tag tells any XML-compliant program that the fields contained in the file are XML-formatted. Place the following code at the top of your file:

   <?xml version="1.0" encoding="ISO-8859-1"?>

3. Define the root node. The root node is the top-level node that encapsulates the data. For instance, the following root node encapsulates a list of orders:

   <orders>
   </orders>

4. Add the XML data. Place all of the data within the root node created in the previous step. The following XML code defines two records:

   <order>
   <id>345</id>
   <product>Book #1</product>
   </order>
   <order>
   <id>547</id>
   <product>Book #2</product>
   </order>

5. Save the file changes. When you save the file, append the ".xml" file extension to the file to define the file format as an XML file.

References

• W3 Schools: Displaying XML with CSS