What programming languages does iXML support 

The iXML library supports three programming languages with an identical or at least extremely similar interface. Once you know the interfaces in one language, you'll immediately know the interfaces in another one. There are of course a few things that can't be identical due to the fact that different languages offer different features, but usually iXML looks, tastes and feels identical in all supported programming languages.

C++

C++ is the implementation language of the iXML library. The main idea behind that was to get an implementation that can be used in programs other than those written in ABAP.

Obviously, you can directly use the iXML library in your C++ program. There is one version of the iXML library for the ABAP kernel and one version for all other programs. The reason for that is the fact that running in the ABAP kernel involves some nasty issues regarding memory management, string handling and other low-level stuff. I usually refer to the non-ABAP kernel version as the "standalone" version.

The C++ version of the library has some nice features like automatic memory management based on reference-counting smart pointers. Even though this is just a little technical detail, it can make life considerably easier.

C

The C++ implementation has an additional wrapper for C. The idea behind this C wrapper was to simplify usage of the iXML library when utilized within the SAP NW application server (which is written C). Instead of requiring each user to wrap the calls to the C++ implementation by herself, one (I) can provide one wrapper covering all interfaces.

If you are not forced to use the C interface, use the C++ interfaces. I already mentioned one of the reasons why you should do that: there is no automatic memory management in C! You will have to keep track of all the objects created, interfaces queried etc.! This can be a nightmare, so better think twice.

Unfortunately, there is no documentation available for the C wrapper of the iXML library.

ABAP Objects

Even though the iXML library is implemented in C++ and is running in the ABAP kernel, you get access to all the iXML interfaces in your ABAP application! In order to accomplish that, I have provided a wrapper for the iXML library as ABAP Objects classes and interfaces. So when you write your application, you will deal with ABAP Objects classes and their interfaces, not with any low-level C++ details.

Since you are not used to have to deal with memory management issues in ABAP, the same is true for the iXML library when used in this context. All objects are automatically destroyed by the ABAP garbage collector and the iXML library when they are not used any more.

The documentation for the ABAP Objects iXML library can be found in the XML- Library subsection of this Web site.