JD <jd4x4@ wrote: > singhals <singhals@erols.com> wrote: >> Total agreement on the data-model will be achieved when If >> And ONLY IF (IFF) only one person has to be pleased by it. > > There could never be total agreement on only one data model, and that's > exactly why XML could be a solution! >> are necessary ... there's gonna be a need for a data-model >> so flexible it may as well not exist (see also: Gedcom >> standard). > > The flexible data model already exists and has for some time. What > doesn't (quite yet, but getting there) exist is the software to > manipulate it for the variety of user requirements & preferences. And, > enough users to realize that and demand it. It's already been said that XML has some advantages in terms of available general=-purpose tools. But I'll say it again--I see no _functional_ difference between a file containing elements with attributes that contain elements with attributes and a file containing records with data that contain records with data. The goodness or badness of the data model is irrelevant to the advantages or disadvantages of the syntax of GEDCOM vs. XML. But the goodness or badness of the data model is a more important issue than the syntactic carrier.