JavaWorld Forums: Re: Ask the right questions in your sur

I'm not sure why the author had to go with a 'hybrid' solution -- mixing hierarchical data structure with the relational. Wouldn't it be easier to simply implement the solution as a full blown hierarchical data structure? Something like the following:

<act:ActionList version='1.0' xmlns:act='http://www.good_thang.net/xmlns/ActionList'>
<act:Action type='Question'>
<act:Content value ='What type of vehicle did you purchase?'/>
<act:Explanation value='Pick your choice'/>
<act:AnswerList>
<act:Answer value='Car'/>
<act:Action type='Question'>
<act:Content value ='What type of car?'/>
<act:AnswerList>
<act:Answer value='Sport Coupe'/>
<act:Answer value='Sedan'/>
</act:AnswerList>
</act:Action>
<act:Answer value='Truck'/>
<act:Action type='Question'>
<act:Content value ='What type of truck?'/>
<act:AnswerList>
<act:Answer value='Pickup'/>
<act:Answer value='4x4'/>
</act:AnswerList>
</act:Action>
<act:Answer value='SUV'/>
<act:Action type='Question'>
<act:Content value ='What type of SUV?'/>
<act:AnswerList>
<act:Answer value='Ford Runner'/>
<act:Answer value='Passport'/>
<act:Answer value='Path Finder'/>
</act:AnswerList>
</act:Action>
</act:AnswerList>
</act:Action>
</act:ActionList>

Post Extras

InfoWorld: Modernizing IT

JavaWorld: Solutions for Java Developers