Cooktop XML editor

K

KellyB

Charter Member
Suddenly I'm getting an error message from Cooktop when trying to edit an xdp file.

The error is:
XML PARSER ERROR

SQLXMLDOC:1771


Anybody had this.

It was doing exactly as advertised, allowing me to correctly edit the xdp files, and then ...
 
I can't help you with this precise problem, I'm afraid, but it might help to know that xdps can be edited easily just using notepad. All cfg, xdp, xml etc files in CFS3 can. Hope that helps!
 
Cooktop includes an XML parser and your error message suggests a recent change is an XML error. Does the program include error code explanations in its help files?
 
Ndicki - I thought the xml editors were superior since they reported errors. And I like the way it structures the display of the files.

Hairyspin: I can't find any error info either in the cooktop help files or on the web.

So I reinstalled cooktop and discovered that if open the application first and then open the file from there, there is no error. If I open by doubleclicking the file itself, I get the error.

For the life of me I can't imagine why I'm getting an SQL error message; unless it's somehow linked to the doubleclick method.

Anyhow, I'm getting the results needed, and we probably should move on.

Thanks guys.

there is a haiku which probably covers this --

Yesterday it worked
Today it is not working
Windows is like that
 
Glad you got to the bottom of it. I use XMLWrench and have associated .xdp files with it, so they open with a double-click, but that's as far as I know! :isadizzy:
 
I have been using notepad for the longest of time to touch up Missions, and it seems to do fine..
I have't gotten XML wrench, or any of the other programs.
I may have to look into all of this..
Thanks for the info guys..
 
If it loads up in the game then it's good, normally a parser error has something to do with beginning or ending tags or sometimes extra white space. If it is a syntax error cooktop will highlight the line and display line number so you can relocate the error when you reopen the document outside of cooktop.
 
Mystery Solved...I think

Got curious again, and went out to find more help with Cooktop.
Seems it's no longer being updated, supported, etc for a variety of reasons.

What is happening is that when cootop opens, it looks out on the web for a file on the old site for updates, and other stuff. The file, called out in and SQL query, is no longer there, hence the error.

Has nothing to do with the structure of the file being edited; it's referring to the fact that it can't find its home out there on the web, a la ET PHONE HOME, but no one answers.

Now the SQL part makes sense.

Sigh.
 
Kelly, as Nigel said notepad works just fine for most changes or modifications to CFS3 .xpd and .xml files. What Cooktop works best for IMHO is finding errors, I never open an .xpd or .xml file in Cooktop unless I have mistakenly produced an error. It has a user friendly interface and quickly locates inproper syntax errors, not to mention its free. Very handy when an aircraft will not load on start up or the game will not start after a change to any of the .xml files. One thing most players have learned is to keep a complete backup of your CFS3 game folder in a separate location. That way WHEN you screw up something like the effects file you can simply overwrite with a good copy. Very comforting when you have tons of effects and sound mods that you don't want to lose.
 
Yes indeedy. I learned early on when writing code for relational databases and publishing/typesetting/postscript software to back up early and often or weep a lot.

Cooktop is doing precisely what you advertise it to do, and I will continue to use it.

My only point is that Cooktop is trying to listen on an a tcp port for updates from its Mother, so to speak, but Mom has cut him loose, and isn't answering the phone any more. The error does not affect how Cooktop performs otherwise, and clicking the OK button ends the problem.

It turns out to be just a curiosity rather than a problem.

I'm still grateful for your pointing me to it -- it got me out of a problem with a mod an xpd file -- and probably will again when I bollox one up. ( notice I didn't say If)
 
I originally searched out an xml editor because I added pages of new effects without backing up the old effects.xml. Looking through all that code to find the errors is like wandering through a maze. Cooktop will reduce days to seconds, invaluable for that purpose. Good to know however that the error you described is of no consequence so people are not aimlessly searching for something that does not exist.
 
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