xModify is an XML syntax that can be used to update HTML elements declaratively. This means that developers can utilize server-side frameworks to create xModify documents that an xModify Processor will use to update the HTML document.
Why is this Helpful?
Because, instead of having to create JavaScript to update the UI for a particular dataset, the developer can use server-side functionality such as PHP, J2EE, Ruby, or XSLT to create XML documents that can to the same thing. This typically will save code, time and increase the maintainablity of the application.
The second reason xModify is helpful is that it puts the know-how into a well defined XML layer, instead of either a client-side or server-side library. XML can be outputted from any server-side or processed client-side layer, making it more likely that knowledge of xModify can be leveraged across projects.
xModify contains a set of operation that a developer would need to perform when manipulating a XML or HTML DOM.
Each of the operations contains a select attribute that is used to select a set of operations.
Append the children of the operation to the selected nodes
Create a clone of the selected nodes.
Insert the children of the operation after the selected nodes
Insert the children of the operation at a specific index of the selected nodes
Insert the children of the operation before the selected nodes
Remove an attribute from the selected nodes
Remove the selected nodes.
Replace the selected nodes with the children of the operation.
Replace the children of selected nodes with the children of the operation.
Change an attribute of the selected nodes.
Change the HTML of the selected nodes to be the children of the operation.
Embed XAL components of the operation into the selected nodes.