XML & XSLT
XML (Extensible Markup Language) a flexible text format for creating structured computer documents. It is a general-purpose specification for creating custom markup languages. XML's purpose is to aid information systems in sharing structured data, especially via the Internet to encode documents, and to serialize data.
XML provides a basic syntax that can be used to share information between different kinds of computers, different applications, and different organizations without needing to pass through many layers of conversion. All major browsers like Google Chrome, opera, Firefox have support for XML and XSLT.
SALIENT FEATURES
· XML is designed to transport and store data.
· With XML You Invent Your Own Tags.
· XML Separates Data from HTML.
· XML Simplifies Platform Changes, Data Sharing and Data Transport.
· XML is Used to Create New Internet Languages like XHTML, WSDL, WAP and WML, RSS.
APPLICATION
XML's support for identity, storage and structure means it is possible to publish to the Web (as HTML) as well as to paper (as PDF) and to other formats (eg Braille, Audio, etc) from a single source document by using the appropriate stylesheets. XML is also very heavily used for enclosing or encapsulating information in order to pass it between different computing systems which would otherwise be unable to communicate. Weather services, e-commerce sites, blog newsfeeds, AJAX sites, and thousands of other data-exchange services use XML for data management and transmission, and the web browser for display and interaction.
XML TOPICS COVERED
XML Basics
o What is XML?
o A History of XML and SGML
o How are people using XML?
o XML Support in Web Browsers
o IE 5 Support
o Netscape 6 Support
o Browser XML Chart
o Server-side XML
FIRST XML DOCUMENT
o XML Example
o The Tree Structure of XML
o XML Tools
o Technology we use
o Non-validating Parsers
o Validating Parsers
o Translating
o DOM & SAX
XML Syntax
o Differences between XML and HTML
o Differences between XML and HTML
o Common mistakes
o Quoting Attributes
o CAPITALIZATION
o Other Issues
o Required XML Elements
o XML Vocabulary
o XML Version 1 Resources
XML Elements and Attributes
o What is an Element?
o What is an Attribute?
o When should you use Elements and Attributes?
Using DTDs (Document Type Definitions) I
o What is a Document Type Definition?
o Declaring use of a DTD in your XML file
o Internal or External, or none?
o What is a Content Model?
Using DTDs (Document Type Definitions) II
o Elements
o Attributes
o Entities
o Examples
o DTD: The Specifics
o ANY and EMPTY
o Aside: XML Schema
XSLT TOPICS COVERED
· XSLT Basics
· eXtensible Stylesheet Language
· The Transformation Process
· An XSLT Stylesheet
· Output Types
· Elements and Attributes
· XPath
· XPath in XSLT
· XPath Expression
· Location Paths
· Node Test
· Axis
· Predicate
· Accessing Nodes
· Abbreviated Syntax
· Accessing Nodes with Abbreviated Syntax
· XPath Functions
· XPath Operators
· Using XPath Functions and Operators
· Flow Control
· Looping in XSLT
· Looping with xsl:for-each
· Sorting with XSLT
· Looping and Sorting
· Conditions with XSLT
· Conditionals
· Templates, Parameters and Variables
· xsl:apply-templates
· Using xsl:apply-templates
· xsl:call-template
· Passing Parameters
· Using xsl:call-template
· Removing Content
· Template Modes
· Template Priority
· XSLT Variables
· Multiple Documents
· Including XSLTs
· Importing XSLTs
· Conflict Resolution
· The document() Function
· Reusing Templates
· Working with Keys
· Key Basics
· Creating a Simple Key
· Improving Performance with Keys
· Improving Performance with Keys
· Grouping
· Grouping Songs By Artist
· Advanced Techniques
· Working with Numbered Lists
· Outputting Processing Instructions
· Copying Nodes
· Tying It All Together: XSLT
· Tying it all Together
· Transforming the Business Letter
APPLICATION
Transform XML schema to another schema.
A food retailer may represent an order based on one schema while the manufacturer may represent it with another. With XSLT, a customer order taken by the retailer can be transformed into an order that matches the manufacturer's requirements.
Transform XML documents into HTML.
New Internet devices may not understand XML, but almost always will support HTML
XSLT transformations
Transform XML to HTML for devices such as handheld PCs, mobile phones, and
TV set-top boxes
Transform XML documents into PDF.
Printers do not understand HTML, but almost always accept the Package Definition Format (PDF).
