[semi-OT] java objects persistence and XML id/idref

[rico]

Hello All.
I need some pointers as to how I go about XML'izing a java object
and referencing it later on if it is encountered in another object in the
XML'ization process.
I believe I have to use id & idref... I am thinking the object would
have to be 'marked' in some way that it has already been serialized
and what's the corresponding id...
Some pointers on this topic would be greatly appreciated.
Thanks.

Rico.

 

[John C. Bollinger]

I need some pointers as to how I go about XML'izing a java object
and referencing it later on if it is encountered in another object in the
XML'ization process.
I believe I have to use id & idref... I am thinking the object would
have to be 'marked' in some way that it has already been serialized
and what's the corresponding id...
Some pointers on this topic would be greatly appreciated.

How about a map from objects to IDs? That seems pretty straightforward.
If the map doesn't contain a mapping for a particular object then it
hasn't been serialized yet; if it does then you have the appropriate
value for an IDREF. The only hitch is generating appropriate unique
IDs in the first place, but that is certainly doable. You could use the
objects' hashCodes in such a scheme, but beware that hashCodes are not
unique.


John Bollinger
(e-mail address removed)

 

[Rico]

How about a map from objects to IDs? That seems pretty straightforward.
If the map doesn't contain a mapping for a particular object then it
hasn't been serialized yet; if it does then you have the appropriate
value for an IDREF. The only hitch is generating appropriate unique
IDs in the first place, but that is certainly doable. You could use
the objects' hashCodes in such a scheme, but beware that hashCodes are
not unique.

Thanks a lot John. Looks straightforward indeed.

Rico.