XML in a Nutshell, Third Edition

If you're a developer working with XML, you know there's a lot to know about XML, and the XML space is evolving almost moment by moment. But you don't need to commit every XML syntax, API, or XSLT transformation to memory; you only need to know where to find it. And if it's a detail that has to do with XML or its companion standards, you'll find it--clear, concise, useful, and well-organized--in the updated third edition of __XML in a Nutshell__.With __XML in a Nutshell__ beside your keyboard, you'll be able to: * Quick-reference syntax rules and usage examples for the core XML technologies, including XML, DTDs, Xpath, XSLT, SAX, and DOM * Develop an understanding of well-formed XML, DTDs, namespaces, Unicode, and W3C XML Schema * Gain a working knowledge of key technologies used for narrative XML documents such as web pages, books, and articles technologies like XSLT, Xpath, Xlink, Xpointer, CSS, and XSL-FO * Build data-intensive XML applications * Understand the tools and APIs necessary to build data-intensive XML applications and process XML documents, including the event-based Simple API for XML (SAX2) and the tree-oriented Document Object Model (DOM) This powerful new edition is the comprehensive XML reference. Serious users of XML will find coverage on just about everything they need, from fundamental syntax rules, to details of DTD and XML Schema creation, to XSLT transformations, to APIs used for processing XML documents. __XML in a Nutshell__ also covers XML 1.1, as well as updates to SAX2 and DOM Level 3 coverage. If you need explanation of how a technology works, or just need to quickly find the precise syntax for a particular piece, __XML in a Nutshell__ puts the information at your fingertips.Simply put, __XML in a Nutshell__ is the critical, must-have reference for any XML developer. The Barnes & Noble Review XML has grown into such a diverse set of technologies that it s almost impossible for newcomers to get their hands around it. Fortunately, there s a solution: Erik T. Ray s Learning XML, Second Edition . This book presents an outstanding birds-eye view of the XML landscape. It s definitely not a programming book (though it does introduce some key XML programming issues). Rather, it s focused on key ideas you need to understand whatever you want to do with XML. That could be document management, web or print content delivery, application integration, B2B commerce, data storage, internationalization -- you name it. Ray s day job is software developer and XML specialist at O Reilly. There, he s helped to implement a complete publishing solution, using DocBook-XML and Perl to produce books in print, on CD-ROM, and for online delivery. So he understands XML from the real-world point of view of someone with a job to do. His first goal is to take on the big questions. First, What is XML? Ray attacks this question from multiple angles, introducing XML as a general-purpose information storage system, a markup language toolkit, and an open standard (or, increasingly, a collection of standards). What can (and can t ) you do with XML? What s the history that led us here? And what tools do you need to get started? Next, he introduces the basic building blocks of XML markup and all XML-derived languages: stuff you ll need to know regardless of your goals. Through easy examples, you ll understand elements, attributes, entities, and processing instructions -- and how they fit together in a well-formed XML document. Then, it s on to representing information with XML -- in other words, understanding the nature and planning the structure of the documents you ll be using. Ray starts simply, then builds on his basic examples to discuss narrative documents with text flows, block and inline elements, and titled sections. Once you can handle those, he discusses more complex information modeling, as used in specialized markup languages such as VML. This edition contains an entirely new chapter on XML Schemas -- what he calls the shepherds that keep documents from straying outside of the herd and causing trouble. Schemas, of course, have become hugely important. This is one of the best plain-English introductions to the topic we ve seen. Ray then turns to presentation, introducing CSS stylesheets, basic usage, rule matching, properties, and more. A little later on, he returns to the subject -- this time with a complete introduction to XSL-FO that illuminates two powerful examples. The first is TEI-XML, a markup language for scholarly documents (Ray presents a Shakespearean sonnet, appropriately coded). The second is the immensely powerful DocBook -- which, as we ve observed, Ray knows inside and out. Learning XML is superbly written. Clear explanations. Simple examples. Great metaphors and analogies. And excellent introductions to nearly every topic that matters, from links to presentation, transformation to internationalization. If you re just starting out with XML, you re lucky to have it. Bill Camarda Bill Camarda is a consultant, writer, and web/multimedia content developer. His 15 books include (http://search.barnesandnoble.com/booksearch/isbninquiry.asp?isbn=0789718529) Special Edition Using Word 2000 and (http://cart2.barnesandnoble.com/booksearch/isbninquiry.asp?isbn=0764505424) Upgrading & Fixing Networks for Dummies, Second Edition . This second edition of the bestselling Learning XML provides web developers with a concise but grounded understanding of XML (the Extensible Markup Language) and its potential-- not just a whirlwind tour of XML.The author explains the important and relevant XML technologies and their capabilities clearly and succinctly with plenty of real-life projects and useful examples. He outlines the elements of markup--demystifying concepts such as attributes, entities, and namespaces--and provides enough depth and examples to get started. Learning XML is a reliable source for anyone who needs to know XML, but doesn't want to waste time wading through hundreds of web sites or 800 pages of bloated text.For writers producing XML documents, this book clarifies files and the process of creating them with the appropriate structure and format. Designers will learn what parts of XML are most helpful to their team and will get started on creating Document Type Definitions. For programmers, the book makes syntax and structures clear. Learning XML also discusses the stylesheets needed for viewing documents in the next generation of browsers, databases, and other devices.Learning XML illustrates the core XML concepts and language syntax, in addition to important related tools such as the CSS and XSL styling languages and the XLink and XPointer specifications for creating rich link structures. It includes information about three schema languages for validation: W3C Schema, Schematron, and RELAX-NG, which are gaining widespread support from people who need to validate documents but aren't satisfied with DTDs. Also new in this edition is a chapter on XSL-FO, a powerful formatting language for XML. If you need to wade through the acronym soup of XML and start to really use this powerful tool, Learning XML, will give you the roadmap you need. If you're a developer working with XML, you know there's a lot to know about XML, and the XML space is evolving almost moment by moment. But you don't need to commit every XML syntax, API, or XSLT transformation to memory; you only need to know where to find it. And if it's a detail that has to do with XML or its companion standards, you'll find it--clear, concise, useful, and well-organized--in the updated third edition of XML in a Nutshell . With XML in a Nutshell beside your keyboard, you'll be able to: Quick-reference syntax rules and usage examples for the core XML technologies, including XML, DTDs, Xpath, XSLT, SAX, and DOM Develop an understanding of well-formed XML, DTDs, namespaces, Unicode, and W3C XML Schema Gain a working knowledge of key technologies used for narrative XML documents such as web pages, books, and articles technologies like XSLT, Xpath, Xlink, Xpointer, CSS, and XSL-FO Build data-intensive XML applications Understand the tools and APIs necessary to build data-intensive XML applications and process XML documents, including the event-based Simple API for XML (SAX2) and the tree-oriented Document Object Model (DOM) This powerful new edition is the comprehensive XML reference. Serious users of XML will find coverage on just about everything they need, from fundamental syntax rules, to details of DTD and XML Schema creation, to XSLT transformations, to APIs used for processing XML documents. XML in a Nutshell also covers XML 1.1, as well as updates to SAX2 and DOM Level 3 coverage. If you need explanation of how a technology works, or just need to quickly find the precise syntax for a particular piece, XML in a Nutshell puts the information at your fingertips. Simply put, XML in a Nutshell is the critical, must-have reference for any XML developer. XML (Extensible Markup Language) has become ubiquitous. It is used as the base format for everything from configuration files to document management to messages sent between computers. While XML has evolved into a complex collection of specifications, a smaller core of XML remains the foundation. Learning XML explains this foundation and its capabilities succinctly and professionally, with references to real-life projects and cogent examples.XML's intense hype wave has cooled, and developers are now using XML on a daily rather than experimental basis. This second edition of Learning XML explains how to work with XML in a wide variety of contexts. Anyone who needs to get close to XML and XML vocabularies -- creating documents, defining schemas, transforming between formats, presenting information, or writing programs that deal directly with documents -- will find this book a guide to the core technologies they need to build with XML.Learning XML starts with coverage of XML's foundations and then explores technologies that address more specific needs. For writers producing XML documents, the book demystifies the process of creating documents with the appropriate structure and format. It also discusses stylesheets for viewing documents in the next generation of browsers and other devices. Designers will learn what parts of XML are most helpful to their team and will get started on creating schemas. For programmers, the book explains how to define and validate document structures and begin programming XML-oriented applications. This third edition of the authoritative XML in a Nutshell provides developers with a comprehensive guide to the XML space. Serious users of XML will find coverage of just about everything they need, including syntax from Unicode characters to document structures, details of DTD and XML Schema creation, XSLT transformations, and APIs used for processing XML documents. Whether you're a web designer using XML to generate web pages and PDF files, or a C++ programmer using REST or SOAP to transmit data between systems, XML in a Nutshell thoroughly explains the basic rules that all XML documents--and all XML documents--and all XML document creators--must follow pt. I. XML concepts. Introducing XML XML fundamentals Document type definitions (DTDs) Namespaces Internationalization pt. II. Narrative-like documents. XML as a document format XML on the Web XSL transformations (XSLT) XPath XLinks XPointers XInclude Cascading Style Sheets (CSS) XSL formatting objects (XSL-FO) Resource directory description language (RDDL) pt. III. Record-like documents. XML as a data format XML schemas Programming models Document object model (DOM) Simple API for XML (SAX) pt. IV. Reference. XML reference Schemas reference XPath reference XSLT reference DOM reference SAX reference Character sets. I think some of the other reviews have already said it, but really, this is a great book. Not just as a quick reference, not just as a technical book, but as a book. It's well written and easy to understand once you're familiar with the vocabulary. I've enjoyed reading it. My advice to those who don't like it is to really focus on chapter 3. There's a lot to know about XML, and it s constantly evolving. But you don't need to commit every syntax, API, or XSLT transformation to memory; you only need to know where to find it. And if it's a detail that has to do with XML or its companion standards, you'll find it here. Ray provides Web developers with a thorough introduction to XML and its capabilities. This new edition has been updated to provide coverage of revised specifications in W3C XML Schema, as well as new emerging specifications for XSL-FO and Xlink