INTRODUCTION TO XML

"Introduction to XML for Games" - Lecture with Jame 7th May.

PART ONE:

What is XML?

"XML is a language form for scripting things in a way that can easily be converted to code and is also easy to read and write".

• Traditionally used when writing websites

• Good for making data structures for code

JAMES' EXAMPLE

Character for our game:

Turning this into XMl:

Create tags e.g. <character>

TAGS

<example></example>

Both start and end tag must be spelled the same way.

End tags are indicated by '/' in front of the tag name.

In between tags is where you can put information e.g. game specific values.

E.g. <value_example>54</value_example>

In XML:

<character>

<name></name>

<class></class>

<level></level>

<xp></xp>

<hp></hp>

</character>

We fill in these values using our original 'on-paper' design.

<character>

<name></Cynthia Rosethorn</name>

<class>Pilot</class>

<level>4</level>

<xp>4500</xp>

<hp>15</hp>

</character>

Assigning data types for each value:

We then must turn these into variables in order to convert this into C#.

OUR TASK

1. Design a magical item

2. Create and fill-in an XML document

3. Create a receiving class for your item's structure

MY MAGICAL ITEM

WHAT DID I DO?

I began by establishing a magical item, in this case it's Doughnut. I labelled the type of item as 'Health' and the number of points it would essentially give players is 3, as well as 1000 XP. I have displayed this in a table to begin with:

'On-paper design'

Converting this into XML

C#