DrawTag: XML Tree Diagrams

DrawTag draws a tree diagram for any XML document. The program reads an XML file and creates a JPEG (or EMF) graphic with a tree rendering of the XML. The graphic is suitable for inclusion into word processing documents, HTML web pages, and/or Power Point presentations. It is intended to help XML users more easily visualize and communicate the content and structure of XML files.

DrawTag is distributed as shareware. You can download the evaluation version here. This version draws any XML file (within memory constraints) using vertical orientation and without XML attributes. The full registered version provides much more control over the diagram, allowing specification of font, font size, orientation, and XML attribute inclusion. A single-user license is just $34.95 and you can register DrawTag online at RegNet for immediate download. We provide a money-back guarantee; if for any reason you are dissatisfied with DrawTag after registering it, we will refund the purchase price.

For example, here is a tree diagram for a simple memo in XML format. Elements are shown highlighted in gray; attributes are shown as "@name=value", and text is rendered verbatim:

Diagrams can also be drawn in horizontal orientation, and without XML attributes:

The font and fontsize are adjustable, the gray fill for element names is optional, and attributes may optionally be displayed as part of the element instead of as separate nodes:

Also, the connectors can optionally be drawn as straight lines instead of square:

Usage

DrawTag requires a Java 1.4 or (higher) runtime. It currently comes packaged as a Java class file, with a main program that provides a simple command-line interface. For the evaluation version, use the command format:

java -classpath . DrawTag infile outfile

For the registered version, use the format:

java -classpath . DrawTag <options> infile outfile

where:

• infile is the name of the XML file to parse
• outfile is the name of the output file to produce
• options (in the registered version only) can include:
  

  -a	include XML attributes displayed as separate nodes of the form @name=value (default is off)
  -a2	include XML attributes displayed within the element (default is off)
  -emf	output in Extended Metafile format (default is JPEG)
  -fit	attempt to scale entire diagram to fit on one printer page
  -font name	specify font name; for example -font Courier (default is Dialog font)
  -h	horizontal orientation (default)
  -nofill	do not gray-fill element name nodes (default is on)
  -size size	specify font size; for example -size 11 (default is 12)
  -straight	draw connectors as straight lines (default is square)
  -v	vertical orientation
  -xpad N	horizontal whitespace padding between elements (default is 15)
  -ypad N	vertical whitespace padding between elements (default is 15)

Note: make sure that your CLASSPATH environment variable points to the runtime library (rt.jar) for Java 1.4 or higher. You can explicitly provide this in the command line (modify this for your own system's Java directory):

java -classpath .;c:\jdk1.4\jre\lib\rt.jar DrawTag memo.xml memo.jpg

Obtaining & Installing DrawTag

You can download the evaluation version here. DrawTag does not come with a separate installation procedure. To install, create a new directory (normally c:\DrawTag) and unzip the distribution file there.

A small batch file (drawtag.bat) is included that demonstrates a command line to run the evaluation version. You must modify this file to point to your local Java runtime library.

To generate EMF output (registered version only), you also need to obtain the free VectorGraphics library FreeHep VectorGraphics libraries. Install these, then use the example in emf.bat to generate EMF output (modifying it to point to your FreeHep library JAR Files).

DrawTag is distributed as shareware. You may use the evaluation version for up to 30 days, after which we ask you to purchase a registered copy. Registration entitles users to up to 1 hour of technical support. The registered version is available for immediate download online under these licenses:

Please contact us for network, site, and other licenses. Sorry, we cannot provide support to unregistered users.

Known Limitations

• The size of the input XML file is limited to that which can be represented in a DOM; therefore the program may run out of memory on large XML files. You can increase the working memory by using the -Xmx Java runtime switch; for example:

  java -Xmx256m

Future Enhancements

• Callable API for use by Java programs
• SVG (vector graphic) output
• Paging logic to split large diagrams into multiple graphics, one for each page.

More Information

For more information contact:

DrawTag and its accompanying documentation are Copyright © 2003 Intelligent Systems Research. All Rights Reserved. Your use of the program indicates acceptance of the License Agreement with Intelligent Systems Research.