Exchanger XML Editor

Introduction

Exchanger XML editor is an XML editor. I use it in various course settings where I either teach XML or use XML - Daniel K. Schneider 16:11, 15 November 2010 (CET).

As of November 2010, Exchanger XML editor is still the best free general purpose XML code editor. It offers schema support and includes an XSLT debugger. Other free editors may better suit precise purposes such as DocBook editing.

XML editing

To insert an element or attribute:

Select the Helper (*>) "pane to the left. Then (in the editing window) click on the element tag you wish to edit or put your cursor in a location between child element. The helper pane will then display available elements on which you can click to insert.
Or, in the contents window press press Ctrl-T to insert an element.
Or, pressing "<" in the editing window gives more options and you can do it in any place.

To insert an attribute, position the cursor after the element name and press the space bar

To display the order of elements (works only with DTD's but not with XSD's) in the top pane to the left. Select Menu->XML->Set Document properties. Untick "Location defined in document", then Tick "Use for Tag completion". I feel that this is an important feature. Too bad that it's sort of hidden away.

Soft wrapping (important for text-centric XML)

Menu (View -> Editor Properties)

XSLT Transformation

I suggest to use "Execute Advanced ..." since it allows to use an attached style-sheet (click on "User Processing Instruction).

XSLT debuggung

Screen shot of the Exchanger XSLT Debugger

Installation tips

Installation on Ubuntu 10.0 LTS

Get xngr-editor.zip xngr-editor.zip a Zip file
Unzip in an install directory, then run it with:

java -jar xngr-editor.jar &

Write a shell script like this (or better) for version 3.3.01 (Summer 2010)

#! /bin/bash
cd /usr/local/xngr
java -jar xngr-editor.jar &

For the older version 3.2 you had to:

#! /bin/sh
cd /usr/local/exchanger
java -jar lib/xngr-loader.jar &

Installation on Windows Vista

Installer did't work for me at some point (Vista professional). Maybe V 3.3. works, but I can't tell since I moved to Win 7.
I had to take the zip version (see above) and then write a 2-line shell script. Contents of file xngr.cmd:

rem Change to the path where you extracted the zip
cd c:\soft\xngr 
start javaw -jar lib\xngr-loader.jar

Opinions

Opinion of DSchneider: Editing is fairly ergonomic, DTD-based XML editing support is ok, XSD-based XML editing support could be improved (does not display information about element structure). There are many additional tools (some useless for beginners but of interest to advanced users). So this is my best choice for a free structure editor.

Only major problem: It does not propose elements in the right order (DTD rules are displayed, but XSD no). This is a problem with almost all editors I have seen. An exception that does this better is Framemaker (an expensive word processor).

Addition (Feb 2007). I used this editor in a 8 weeks XML beginner's class and indeed it was a good choice. I also liked the XSLT support. There is a validator and editing support for major XSL and XSD elements. Also, I found out that one can format text (Menu Edit->XML->Format). This is crucial when confronted with ugly student productions :).
Xchanger was again updated on June 2010 (version 3.3). Still the best overal choice for teaching introductory XML (DTD,XSLT,XSD etc.) - Daniel K. Schneider 15:10, 20 September 2010 (CEST).