What are the benefits of using XML?
XML is quickly becoming a key component of initiatives to implement electronic filing systems and to create integrated justice systems. XML holds great promise for being a universal translator between different data formats. It uses Document Type Definitions (DTD), which is a set of declarations that specifies the allowable order, structure, and attributes of tags for a particular type of document, i.e., a legend of sorts. The use of DTDs allows translation even among different DTDs. This allows a programmer to define fields easily in any program, from e-mail to a SQL database. Data then can be imported and exported to and from different systems and across platforms (e.g., from IBM to Macintosh and beyond). In other words, XML has the potential to take raw information from one database and transfer into another database. These features of XML make it an excellent tool for overcoming barriers to data transfer and access and, consequently, for facilitating cross jurisdictional enforcemen
