A number of downloadable applications can come in handy when you’re developing and debugging XML documents. Some of these tools provide environments for viewing your documents, while others help you create them. Here’s a look at several of these useful applications.

XML Spy
XML Spy provides an Integrated Development Environment (IDE) for creating and maintaining XML documents. Using a slick visual editor, you can easily create XML documents, DTDs, and schemas. A free, 30-day evaluation copy of XML Spy can be downloaded from its Web site.

IBM AlphaWorks XML Viewer
The AlphaWorks research team at IBM has created a Java-based XML viewer application. AlphaWorks’ XML Viewer provides a multiframe view of the XML document, including XML source, DTD, and tree views. You can download the XML Viewer from the AlphaWorks Web site.

Microsoft Internet Explorer
Microsoft’s latest versions of the Internet Explorer Web browser now provide features for viewing XML documents. Simply load your XML document into Internet Explorer like a Web page, and you’ll be able to navigate the XML data. You can download the latest version of Internet Explorer from Microsoft.

NetClue browser
NetClue Software offers the HTML-XML Dual Viewer, which enables viewing of both HTML and XML data. The viewer provides a visual environment for manipulating XML and HTML documents, and the professional edition adds servlets for translating between XML and HTML data.

XML Pro
Vervet’s XML Pro is another XML development tool that allows you to create and modify XML documents and DTDs using a drag-and-drop approach. XML Pro uses IBM’s XML4J parser engine to process the XML data. You can download a free demo version of XML Pro from Vervet.

Amaya
The Amaya browser, from the World Wide Web Consortium (W3C), is a reference implementation open source browser. Amaya allows you to both view and edit HTML, XHTML, CSS, MathML, and SVG documents. This browser is available for download.

Plenty of options
These resources can make handling your XML information as easy as a click of your browser. Among these six tools, you will surely find one that will get the job done for you.