how to pass xml schema through sockets ?

Question

Hi

Could someone please help and tell me if there is a possibility to pass an xml schema through a socket program written in C/C++ ? here is an example:
---- c/C++ ----
...

struct zone { // as an example
char *Var_name="xxx";
float var_value = 1.3;
};

----- xml ---
...
<xs:element name="zone">
<xs:complexType>
<xs:sequence>
<xs:element name="Var_name" type="xs:string"/>
<xs:element name="var_value" type="xs:decimal"/>
</xs:sequence>
</xs:complexType>
</xs:element>

------ C/C++ ----
...
// send message to server
if (send(csocket, buffer_snd, BUFSIZE, 0) > BUFSIZE)
cout << send() failed << endl;
...

Is this the way to exchange data as XML to avoid endianness when communicating between program running on Unix and other on Windows?

Thanking you in advance for your replies,

Answer 1

Anything that can be represented as a series of bytes can be sent via a socket. Since an XML schema is in textual form, it can be represented as a series of bytes. Hence, it can be sent via a socket.

And as additional information, not only must it be expressible as a series of bytes, it must also have some meaningful representation on the other end of the wire. Hence, a pointer to an object can be represented as a series of bytes, and you could send it over a socket, but it has no meaning when it's received by the receiver. An XML schema however, has meaning on either end, so it can be meaningfully sent over.

Edit:

std::string s;
s = "this is the static part of the string";
s += GetSomeStringFromSomewhere(); // This is a string that was dynamically retrieved
// And so on...

Answer 2

When you uploaded your question to SO, the sample schema was sent via a socket. When we viewed your question, it was sent via a socket again (and both transmissions appear to have succeeded).

Right now, it's apparent that the code you gave wasn't a direct copy and paste though, because it clearly won't compile exactly as-is. Our inability to see the real code you tried to use is a significant handicap in diagnosing any problems it may include.