By default, the iFS XML renderer reconstructs the original file, including the XML attribute tags. When you double-click the file, iFS reconstructs it, then opens it in whatever XML editor you use.

It is important to be able to reconstruct the file, but you can more creative things with the file. For example, if you parse the XML-based insurance claim, you may want to show only some sections of the original file to customers when they access it through a web-based self-service application. You may also want to calculate values, such as totals, counts, and averages, from the contents of the file, then add the results of these calculations to the file. Or you may want to change the format of the file, displaying it as RTF or HTML instead of less-readable XML.

All these tasks can be accomplished through the iFS renderer. The parsed contents of an XML file are waiting in iFS for dynamic reassembly, showing whatever range, format, or type of information you need for your users or your applications. By writing and registering a new renderer for a certain class of XML file, you can change how iFS displays those files.