Currently, XML is a bubbling cauldron of expectations and implementations. In XML in Action, William J. Pardi gives you a feel for what Microsoft is throwing into the mix by providing a general introduction to XML, with a focus on Internet Explorer 5.0's implementation in particular.
Not surprisingly, the book opens up with a discussion of markup languages, the need for an extensible solution such as XML, and a taste for some of the associated languages currently critical to XML. The text then moves into the structure of XML documents, presenting the many XML terms and explaining how Document Type Definition (DTD) enforces the rules that govern XML implementations.
The book illustrates how to script XML and how to use it to build data structures--a major advantage of XML and an important skill for Web developers. The author also discusses the Extensible Stylesheet Language (XSL), a special formatting dialect for use with XML, and the special linking capabilities of XML, focusing on Xlink and Xpointer. Pardi illustrates several other advanced aspects of XML and documents the XML Object Model. A companion CD includes e-text of the book, content, and code samples and links to XML resources online. While this title is written through the eyes of Microsoft, it provides an excellent introduction to the possibilities and realities of XML. --Stephen W. Plain
XML IN ACTION shows site developers how to use XML to transcend the limitations of HTML in the delivery of rich, structured data from any application. This insightful guide describes how to work with XML as featured in Microsoft® Internet Explorer 5, offering rich examples of XML-enhanced Web pages that you can incorporate into your own sites.XML IN ACTION will help you:
• Learn how XML relates to other common markup languages and what sets it apart from HTML, SGML, and RTF
• Understand the basics of XML structure and syntax• Learn the rules that define Document Type Definition (DTD)
• Utilize XML through scripting
•Use XML as a data source to learn the ins and outs of its linking capabilities
• Examine how XML works and help you create extensible style sheets based on formatting rules
• Find out about current development and what the future holds for XML
Take advantage of newer, cleaner data representation techniques for designing or updating Web pages and sites with XML IN ACTION. Included on CD-ROM:
• Developer content from the Site Builder Network Web site, brought to you by MSDN™
• Fully searchable electronic version of the book
• Code samples used in the book
• Web links to XML-related sites
