Object Element

Introduction

What is XML?

XML stands for eXtensible Markup Language, a generic syntax used to encode data in a series of parent-child relationships. An XML document contains a hierarchical list of elements, each of which is described by a set of traits. In Oblivion, XML is used to encode various customizable properties of the user interface. Every button, box, piece of text, and colorful widget in a menu (or the HUD) is an element in that menu's XML file, where it is described by traits such as position, color, and graphical texture.

General Syntax

XML markup syntax is largely based on HTML. An XML element is defined by an pair of opening and closing tags - matching angle brackets "<>" enclosing the type of the element. For example, the following xml code defines a text element:

<text> </text>

Note that the closing tag is denoted by slash. Anything in between an element's tags is considered to be a child of that element. For example, the following defines an image element which has a child text element:

<image> <text> </text> </image>

If an element has no children, like the first example above, then the opening/closing tag syntax can be abbreviated to:

<text />

Element traits are written as name/value pairs in the opening tag:

<image traitname="traitvalue"> </image>

Comments can be added to the code by enclosing them with "<!--" and "-->":

<!-- this is a comment -->

To learn more about XML syntax, read the complete specification or one of the tutorials provided by the World Wide Web Consortium.