Re: Excel by XML generation

I think the basic problem Richard is that the generation requirement is often a "souped up" version of an existing report program. There is not a consistent single data format that can be sent to a file and then processed by Python/PHP/Java/... so multiple calls are normally the only convenient option.

The C library that was mentioned earlier would probably have a great performance profile - certainly way better than calling Python or other OS language routines.


Jon

On Dec 16, 2020, at 10:57 AM, Richard Schoen <richard@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx> wrote:

I haven't been closely following this thread, but it's not really inefficient to make calls to a Java, Python, Node, PHP, etc. app from RPG to create a file dump program to Excel.

Just create a command line version of the Data Export app you want to run using <<insert favorite open source language here> > and call the process via CL.

To make things even easier, you can call the process right from your RPG or CL program using the QSHEXEC command in my QSHONI library.

We can't spoon feed it for you, but it's not inefficient to call open source languages from RPG or CL, so instead of resisting it, try it out and open your horizons.

It's amazing how much more work you can get done with Power Tools !!

Regards,
Richard Schoen
Web: http://www.richardschoen.net
Email: richard@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
----------------------------------------------------------------------

message: 1
date: Wed, 16 Dec 2020 14:55:51 +0000
from: Darren Strong <darren@xxxxxxxxx>
subject: RE: Excel by XML generation

Thank you Vern,

I anticipated that the XML extension was going to be an issue, and I hadn't found a resolution for that yet. Also, knowing that it's an older format means I'll probably reject that method.

So, here is my current view of the state of Excel generation:

- There are lots of tools to take a file and create a spreadsheet, but, there isn't much flexibility in file dumps.
- There are languages like C, Python and Java that have pseudo native access to Excel generation through "libraries", but, I'm programming in RPG, so, I have to use inefficient interfaces to access those tools.

In conclusion, what I want does not exist, and that is a way to generate flexible Excel output from RPG without using an inefficient interface to another language. There isn't much documentation around the Excel XML format, even if I was to generate my own methods, because it's complicated, and most people would say, why re-invent the wheel when C, Python, and Java have tools already.

-----Original Message-----
From: MIDRANGE-L <midrange-l-bounces@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx> On Behalf Of Vernon Hamberg
Sent: Wednesday, December 16, 2020 9:23 AM
To: Midrange Systems Technical Discussion <midrange-l@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>
Subject: Re: Excel by XML generation

CAUTION: This email originated from outside of the organization. Do not click links or open attachments unless you recognize the sender and know the content is safe.


Hi Darren

I don't know which Scott went with but can speak to the difference - the XML-only version is the 2003 XML Spreadsheet format that is pretty much not in use anymore - several of Jon and Susan's early examples used this, since it's easy to work with just that one XML file. It has several limitations, like, so far as I know, not allowing for images.
You CAN do multiple sheets, though.

--
This is the Midrange Systems Technical Discussion (MIDRANGE-L) mailing list
To post a message email: MIDRANGE-L@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
To subscribe, unsubscribe, or change list options,
visit: https://lists.midrange.com/mailman/listinfo/midrange-l
or email: MIDRANGE-L-request@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
Before posting, please take a moment to review the archives
at https://archive.midrange.com/midrange-l.

Please contact support@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx for any subscription related questions.

Help support midrange.com by shopping at amazon.com with our affiliate link: https://amazon.midrange.com