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Using BMML as a file extension for Mockups?
Hi there. So I am thinking of switching the default file extension for Mockup's mockups file from XML to BMML (Balsamiq Mockups Markup Language). The tool would still load XML files and allow you to specify .xml as an extension when saving, but the default extension would become .bmml instead.
This would allow the following:
- double-click on a mockup file to open it
- easy disambiguation between Mockup's XML files and other XML files you might have
- a nice little icon on your mockup files
The name BMML is not the easiest to pronounce, but it's descriptive, it keeps the "ML" suffix which I think is important, and most of all it's not already used by software which a lot my customers might already have on their computers (the only references I found to it are for Braille Music XML and the Bach Musicology Mailing List).
What do you think? Should I make this change or stay with XML? Can you think of a better extension?
This would allow the following:
- double-click on a mockup file to open it
- easy disambiguation between Mockup's XML files and other XML files you might have
- a nice little icon on your mockup files
The name BMML is not the easiest to pronounce, but it's descriptive, it keeps the "ML" suffix which I think is important, and most of all it's not already used by software which a lot my customers might already have on their computers (the only references I found to it are for Braille Music XML and the Bach Musicology Mailing List).
What do you think? Should I make this change or stay with XML? Can you think of a better extension?
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Inappropriate?Seems like a good Idea. If you can’t use one of the partially established ones like XUL or UIML (http://xml.coverpages.org/userInterfa...) make your own and name it that way.
I never got deep into XML UI description languages, so there is possibly an easy answer: What made you use your own markup language? Were there too much constraints?
How about BAML? Sounds nice to me :)3 Comments
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This is one of the best points
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Hi Jakob, thanks for the links, I'll take a look. I went with my own language purely for convenience, thinking that XSLT can help people go from one XML flavor to the other easily enough.
What would BAML stand for? It's a little too close to XAML for my taste... ;) -
Wow, 12 competing formats?!!? Now I don't feel bad about making my own. ;)
If there ever is a "winner", I'll move to that. -
Well be number 13 then. You can call it "Mockup Markup Language" -> ".mml" is not really used according to dotwhat.net.
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Inappropriate?Actually, MML is spoken for: it's the Marathon Markup Language. However, BXL is still up for grabs, and keeps an "X" in the extension, which is appealing in some strange way.
As for the idea itself, I think it's worth it to get that double-click-to-load-file capability. Would prefer a three-letter extension, if possible.
I’m glad this is being considered.
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This is one of the best points
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Why the 3-letter preference? MXML, XAML and most of the ones that Jakob pointed to are 4 letters. MS DOS is dead, long live MS DOS? :)
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For the record, I wrote a DOS batch file just this week to add wildcard support to your new command line PNG feature. So take that, Mister Smartypants. :)
Why the 3-letter preference? Because I'm lazy where appropriate: life is too short to type four letters when three will do. -
Touche', but I still like BMML, it's the most descriptive and "narrowly scoped" of the suggestions so far, if you know what I mean.
Glad that there wasn't a technical reason for sticking with 3 letters. -
One last comment, and I promise I'll stop: Just discovered that, at least according to filext.com and dotwhat.net, the extension MCK isn't taken.
Incredibly, it's been out there all these years just waiting for a product named "Mockups."
MCK seems fairly "descriptive" and "narrowly scoped" ... and manages that in only three letters. :) -
Hey Michael, I hope you're not offended, but I went with BMML...somehow it got stuck in my head since I thought of it! It's four letters, but you won't have to type it much, the app adds it by itself when you don't specify an extension.
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Inappropriate?Followup to myself a few minutes later -- seems that MXL is also available, in that is used to belong to Moxcel spreadsheet files, but Moxcel is long defunct.
Mark(Mock)up eXtensible Language? -
Inappropriate?Right now on open it defaults to looking for xml files. Will you change that to .bmml files in the future?1 Comment Add a comment
This is one of the best points
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Are you talking about the JIRA or Desktop version? The latest JIRA version only looks for BMML files, the Desktop version allows you to open both (for backward compatibility)
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Inappropriate?In this case, the Desktop version. This isn't a big deal, but right now it, by default, looks for xml files, rather than BMML files.1 Comment Add a comment
This is one of the best points
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What version are you using? The bmml support was added pretty recently. It should allow you to load both kinds.
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Inappropriate?Here is a set of screenshots that hopefully help (btw, I'm using 1.1.54)
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Inappropriate?Ah, I get it, thanks. That dialog works differently on the mac! I'll fix it, thanks for the screenshots, worth 1000 words! :)
