What's the best way to work with and create xml files?

Question

I have to edit and work with XML files (a program that I'm creating input files for) and I haven't ever worked with this format before. I have to do quit a lot of work with XML so I'm wondering if I should use notepad, wordpad or some other editor. I don't want this to be a big hassle for me to complete so I'm looking for a "best" solution; a freeware, shareware or other program that somebody has experience working with that handles XML easily and is simple and intutive to use. Free is great but I'll even pay $50 if I can find something that's really simple and saves me a lot of time.

Answer 1

Here you are.
Notepad++ It is free. It has a multiple language parser and line numbers to help you find the errors.

Just think of XML as free form html. There are no defined tags you just make them up as you go along. As long as they are meaningful then the tags are right.

Basically XML is a way of commenting data. It has just been extended to compete with html.

Answer 2

There are many XML Editors / Browsers out there; free and not so free. You don't have to work with "raw" XML. Just search the Web for "XML Editor".

Check out the Microsoft Web Site:

http://msdn2.microsoft.com/en-us/xml/default.aspx