Introduction to XML

We are in the midst of the XML revolution. XML offers three major improvements over existing Web technologies. First, since XML pages contain their own internal logic, they enable data transfer between different systems, applications, and even organizations. Second, since XML keeps your data separate from its display characteristics, you can write your data once, and use it to generate documents in a wide range of languages, including HTML, WML, and XML. Finally, when applied client-side, XML makes your browser data-aware, reduces the load on your server and database, and allows a wide range of dynamic effects.

After completing this three-day course, students will be able to:

• Understand the Role of XML Applications
• Master XML Document Structure
• Incorporate Document Type Definitions (DTDs)
• Write XML Schemas
• Apply CSS and XSL Stylesheets
• Transform Your Data With XSLT
• Understand XML Namespaces
• Use HTML to Create Dynamic Data-driven XML Applications

Target audience

Students should have a good working knowledge of Cascading Style Sheets and JavaScript gained through experience or prior attendance on introductory level courses.

Course content

Introduction to XML Overview . The Development of XML . Exercise 0: Downloading and Extracting the Files for today's class . An XML Example . Why XML?

XML and Browser Compatibility Microsoft and XML Extensions . Why Use a Browser to Display XML?

Examining an XML Application The Components of an XML Application . Exercise 1: Completing an HTML "Wrapper"

XML Syntax XML Logical Structure . XML Physical Structure . XML Logic: Designing Datasheets . Exercise 2: Building a well-formed XML document from text data . XML Attributes Revisited . Why Use Attributes? . An Introduction to Our Demo Application . Exercise 3: Adding attributes to your XML Datasheet

Document Type Definitions (DTDs) Example: A Basic DTD . Validating Against your DTDs . Exercise 4: Adding an Internal DTD to your XML Datasheet . External DTDs . Public vs. System DTDs . Exercise 5: Creating an External DTD, and linking it to your XMLDatasheet

XML Namespaces

XML Schemas Current Status of the XML Schema Proposal . Referencing An XML Schema . The xsi Namespace . An XML Schema Document . Beginning a Schema Document . Exercise 6: Beginning an XML Schema Document . Specifying Document Structure with your Schema . Declaring Attributes . Exercise 7: Writing your Schema to Describe Document Structure . Restricting Content with Schemas . Specifying Default Values . Validating Against Schemas . Exercise 8: Restricting Content of your simpleType Elements

Using Cascading Style Sheets (CSS) to Present XML Data A Brief Review of CSS Rules . Exercise 9: Displaying XML Data with a CSS Stylesheet

Extensible Stylesheet Language (XSL) XSL, XSLT, and XSLFO . XSL Basics: Linking to an XSL Stylesheet . Examining an XSL Stylesheet . Exercise 10: Beginning an XSL Stylesheet . xsl:apply-templates and Iterative Content . XPath: the XSL Node Matching Syntax . Exercise 11: Displaying Iterative Data with Your XSL Stylesheet . Using xsl:sort to re-sort your display . Exercise 12: Adding a Sort Order to your XSL . Generating Hyperlinks with XSL . Exercise 13: Generating Hyperlinks with XSL . Loops with XSL . Exercise 14: Adding an xsl:for-each Loop to Your Stylesheet

Displaying Complex Structures with XSL Exercise 15: Building an HTML Table with XSL

Conditional Logic in XSL xsl:if For Conditional Output . Multi-Option Branching with xsl:choose, xsl:when, and xsl:otherwise . Conditional Operators in XSL . Exercise 16: Using XSL Conditionals to Identify Oscar-Winners

XPath Expressions and XSL Functions XPath Expressions and Filters . Exercise 17: Using XPath Filtering Expressions . Aggregate Functions . Exercise 18: Adding Aggregate Functions to your Stylesheet . Data Conversion, Calculations, and Variables . Variables in XSL and the xsl:variable Tag . Exercise 19: Translating Meters to Feet Using XSL . Calculations and Number Formatting Functions . Exercise 20: Using XSL Calculations to Produce Feet and Inches

Building the HTML Front End to XML Data Data Islands and the HTML <XML> tag . Exercise 21: Creating an HTML Wrapper for your Movie List Application

Dynamic XSL Changes Using XSL Updating to Re-Sort XML Data . Exercise 22: Allowing Users to Re-Sort their Display

Using XSL to Produce New XML Exercise 23: Producing a datasheet organized by film rather than by actor

Conclusions: Why XML?

Appendix A: Incorporating CSS with XSL

Appendix B: The XML DOM   Partial Searches with JavaScript . Accessing the XML DOM Tree with JavaScript . Building a Tree Display of your XML Content

Appendix C: Glossary

Appendix D: Cascading Style Sheets (CSS)

Appendix E: Special Characters

Appendix F: Recommended Resources

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