This is by no means a comprehensive review of SketchPath, but I just wanted to say thanks Phil Fearon, for developing this app.

I use XML/XPath/XSL less frequently today than with previous positions, but every now and then, when chiseling away at a slab of XML, having an XPath tool can make my life much easier. I always relied on Interactive XPath Expression Builder 4.0, but larger XML files hindered performance. In an effort to find a good XPath editor, I have installed several I have found on the web, used them, and uninstalled all of them.

Ideally, I am looking for a tool that is light and free. By light I mean, I am not looking to install a development studio, nor something that attempts to integrate with all of my existing applications, nor something that requires a reboot when installing or uninstalling, nor something that cannot fully uninstall itself. I plan on using this tool as often as I have to deal with XML/XPath/XSL these days, which is once every few months. Usually the time it takes me to find a tool, install it, author what I need, and uninstall it, I could have written the XPath by hand.

As I searched online for tools this time, I stumbled across SketchPath. While hesitant to install another XML app to only end up in my graveyard of XML apps, I gave this one a try. It is free, so I figured, why not.

“YES! F-bomb YEAH!”

After installing, I loaded up my XML, clicked on an attribute within a node, and sure enough, the XPath needed to locate that element was displayed. It was that simple. After a few more node selections, I had the XPath I needed for my app. In and out like a robbery.

“SketchPath is a free XPath Editor and XML analysis and testing tool supporting XPath 1.0 and XPath 2.0. It provides an integrated graphical environment for viewing XML files, developing and testing XPath expressions against them and managing the expressions in file libraries.”

Thanks Phil! This was exactly what I needed. I will not be uninstalling.

Alex Mueller Esoterica