OPML question

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Posted by Andy Brice
Apr 28, 2019 at 12:26 PM

I have seen OPML mentioned a few times (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/OPML) here and I have been requested to be able to support OPML import/export in Hyper Plan. But OPML seems to assume that the data is structured in a tree (node has max of 1 parent), whereas Hyper Plan connections are a graph (node can have >1 parent) and can even include cycles.

Out of interest, has anyone tried to get OPML to support graphs, rather than trees?

Surely some of the mind mapping tools use graphs? What do they do?

—
Andy Brice
http://www.hyperplan.com

Posted by Paul Korm
Apr 28, 2019 at 12:43 PM

Andy, I’ve worked with many apps that attempt to do a good job of OPML export—and frequently fail. It goes back to the root intent of Dave Winer’s OPML “standard” (loosely conceived), which was to support RSS and other data feeds. The intent, as stated at opml.org, is “an XML-based format that allows exchange of outline-structured information between applications running on different operating systems and environments”.

In other words outline == hierarchy.

I think your customers would not be satisfied with attempts to cram a graph into an outline.

Better possibilities might be graphviz, or (with certain heroic interventions) JSON, or XML—- but the problem is finding many commercial and commonly available apps that ingest graph data in those formats. Probably not many,

Posted by washere
Apr 28, 2019 at 01:31 PM

Been converting hp files to opml, Master key of conversions, for a couple of years. A cell with multi cards is a subtree, also formally in complex tree outlines, subnodes can have multi parents.

Just consulted my fifty page manual, conversion instructions of files between numerous apps I use, and the HP section is half a page. Uses instructions and 5 apps, to get to a big outline software that used to be reviewed by some here and on their blogs. Takes a couple of minutes to convert thorough all other five apps, becomes opml halfway.

The opml problem some face is because of the version they use, otherwise no format comes close, it’s the open sesame heart of outline conversions, but any opml format can be tamed easily if you know how.

I can hammer HP output to any shape or filter or sort order. As with fifty or so other apps in that conversion manual I’ve written. But for index card Genre purposes, I’m using a couple of other apps more these days, like Treesheets which I’ve returned to and made new templates for.

Posted by Andy Brice
Apr 29, 2019 at 07:39 AM

I might be better only allowing OPML import. Apparently there is also graphML, which supports graphs:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/GraphML
I could support that for import and export.

—

Andy Brice
https://www.hyperplan.com

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