XML in easy steps, 2nd edition

XML in easy steps instructs you on how to employ XML data documents. It is completely updated from the first edition of this title, which described the emerging XML technologies, to demonstrate those parts of XML that have become popular in today's real-world applications. Clear step-by-step instructions are provided to explain each aspect of XML, and screenshots illustrate every example.

XML in easy steps describes the eXtensible Markup Language(XML), together with the associated technologies of Document Type Definition (DTD), XmlSchema Documents (XSD), and the eXtensible Stylesheet Language (XSL). It illustrates how XML can be used to create Scalable Vector Graphics (SVG), how to access XML data with JavaScript, and how to deploy XML in modern AJAX web applications. You don't need to have previous knowledge of any markup language so it's ideal for the newcomer to XML. By the end of this book you will have gained a sound understanding of XML and be able to create your own well-formed XML documents and validating schemas.

XML in easy steps has an easy-to-follow style that will appeal to anyone who wants to begin using XML. It will appeal to programmers who want to quickly add XML to their skills set, the enthusiast who wants to explore the possibilities of XML, and to those seeking a career in web development who need an understanding of XML.

Mike McGrath now lives in South-east Europe, on the sun-kissed shores of the Aegean Sea. Mike gained his extensive knowledge of computer languages while working as a developer contracting to companies around the world. His interests include coins of ancient Greece, dining-out with friends, and the ongoing evolution of the world wide web.

1. Creating XML documents
   • Introducing XML
   • Differences between XML and HTML
   • Advantages of XML
   • Uses of XML
   • Writing an XML document
   • Styling XML with CSS
   • Understanding XML syntax
   • Correcting XML errors
   • Employing an XML editor
   • Adding comments & entities
   • Avoiding XML attributes
   • Summary
2. Writing DTD schemas
   • Introducing schemas
   • Nominating a DTD for XML
   • Creating a DTD schema
   • Specifying element sequence
   • Controlling element occurence
   • Allowing alternative elements
   • Permitting element attributes
   • Requiring attribute values
   • Adding comments & entities
   • Summary
3. Writing XSD schemas
   • Comparing schema types
   • Nominating an XSD for XML
   • Creating an XSD schema
   • Specifying element sequence
   • Controlling element occurence
   • Allowing alternative elements
   • Permitting element attributes
   • Requiring attribute values
   • Adding comments & entities
   • Summary
4. Adding XSD restrictions
   • Restricting numeric content
   • Restricting date content
   • Creating custom restrictions
   • Restricting by range
   • Restricting string length
   • Restricting digit length
   • Restricting by pattern
   • Enumerating allowable content
   • Summary
5. Using XML namespaces
   • Introducing namespaces
   • Applying your own namespace
   • Qualifying namespaces
   • Including other schemas
   • Styling the default namespace
   • Importing other namespaces
   • Styling multiple namespaces
   • Using the XLink namespace
   • Summary
6. Writing XSL stylesheets
   • Introducing XSL
   • Selecting element values
   • Selecting each element
   • Sorting selected elements
   • Selecting elements on condition
   • Choosing alternative elements
   • Applying multiple templates
   • Generating attribute values
   • Summary
7. Adding XPath expressions
   • Introducing XPath
   • Selecting child nodes
   • Selecting parents & siblings
   • Selecting nodes by position
   • Selecting nodes by comparison
   • Counting selected nodes
   • Formatting node values
   • Manipulating node values
   • Summary
8. Producing SVG graphics
   • Introducing SVG
   • Producing graphic shapes
   • Producing graphic lines
   • Producing graphic paths
   • Transforming graphic groups
   • Adding hyperlinks in SVG
   • Scripting for graphic events
   • Embedding SVG in HTML
   • Summary
9. Scripting the XML DOM
   • Introducing the XML DOM
   • Loading XML data
   • Adding cross-browser support
   • Addressing tag names
   • Addressing child nodes
   • Filtering by node type
   • Getting all data
   • Selecting specific data
   • Summary
10. Deploying XML with AJAX
    • Introducing AJAX
    • Creating a request object
    • Sending a request
    • Processing response data
    • Designing an AJAX application
    • Loading data for AJAX
    • Notifying updates in AJAX
    • Running the AJAX application
    • Summary

• Zip file of all code examples in the book (422 KB)