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XML @ Web Programming
Programming Shed : Programmer Store & Resources |
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XML Index - XML Book :
Enterprise XML Clearly Explained
by Robert Standefer Paperback - 351 pages 1st edition (December 4, 2000) Morgan Kaufmann Publishers ISBN: 012663355X Dimensions (in inches): 8.30 x 9.26 x 7.45 Few recent developments on the Internet have held as much promise and brought with them such hype as the eXtensible Markup Language (XML). Robert Standefer's Enterprise XML Clearly Explained lives up to its title, with a clearly rendered tour of XML and related standards that are geared to the IT professional who wants to understand what XML is and what it's used for. While many computer titles compete for maximum page count, this book makes it a point to remain economical in its presentation style. The history of markup languages from SGML to HTML and on to XML is explained from the very beginning. That's not to say that the tour of basic XML is simplistic; it's not. A number of standards (like XLinks, XPointers, and XML namespaces) that are still under construction also are described. The book moves from theory to practice--first, by way of a survey of a number of today's XML tools. Then, XML as used in actual standards is discussed, such as the Chemical Markup Language for describing chemical formulas, and Microsoft's Channel Definition Format (CDF) for describing channels of "push" content. You also learn about how XML schemas and structured data (DVD database records are used in examples) are designed. This book closes with a case study of an ASP-powered Web site (reviews of DVDs), using XML on the middle tier, formatted with XSL into HTML for browsers. This simple yet state-of-the-art sample helps cement the reader's understanding of XML. There's also good material that will help you grasp how XML is used in today's databases, such as Oracle and SQL Server. (Most readers will want to ignore 100+ pages of appendices, however, which are reprints of the XML 1.0 specification in full. This material likely will be nothing but intimidating to the XML novice.) On the whole, Enterprise XML Clearly Explained accomplishes its stated mission. It's a digestible, intelligent guide to a cluster of standards that surround XML, which is a perfect choice for any IT manager or developer who's unsure about what XML is and what it can do for future Web-development efforts. --Richard Dragan Enterprise XML Clearly Explained covered: • History of XML, including SGML, HTML, and XML • Goals of XML • Structured data • Document Type Definitions (DTDs) • Valid and well-formed XML documents • Emerging XML standards (XLinks, XPointers, and namespaces) • Survey of XML tools (including xmlproc, Xparse, and DOMParser) • XML authoring tools and content management tools • Current XML standards • Extensible Forms Description Language (XFDL) • Vector Markup Language (VML) • Mathematical Markup Language • Microsoft's Channel Definition Format (CDF) • XML support in today's browsers • Server-side XML • XML Document Object Model (DOM) • Building XML with Visual Basic • Perl, Active Server Pages (ASPs), and PHP • XML and databases (Oracle and SQL Server) • Case study for DVD content Web site • Reference for XML 1.0 specification and Resource Description Framework (RDF) Book Description: Extensible Markup Language (XML) enables Web publishers and programmers to display information in ways that HTML cannot by customizing and adapting the language to meet special needs. As people take advantage of this diverse language, XML is quickly becoming the key for enterprise database companies, vendors, and consultants to connect and automate enterprise systems and databases. In short, XML creates interoperability and more integrated systems for any complex computer system. In Enterprise... Customer Reviews Reviewer: Miles Reick from Des Moines, IA This book proved a very interesting read. I bought it despite the negative comments below, and I figured the comments were split 60/40 on the positive side. While the book is somewhat short and to the point, I did like several things about it: First, the coverage of XML products. While the products are updated since the book came out, the book did offer a good starting point. I also really liked the chapter on different XML-based markup languages. The book is slanted toward the Microsoft side of things, and I would have liked to have seen some coverage of SAX. I can't fault the author for not developing in other languages, especially since he offers examples of using XML from other languages (Perl, PHP). I recommend this book if you're up for an easy read and would like a snapshot of XML's early days. I would buy a second edition if it came out. Reviewer: Rose Wilson from Tuscaloosa, AL I bought this book based on reading this summary: "Going with XML in an enterprise is an important decision that requires IT professionals to carefully weigh the pros and cons. In "Enterprise XML Clearly Explained," Robert Standefer provides a look at XML, not from within a vacuum, but with consideration to the tools currently available. The book includes a quick primer to XML, as well as coverage of all of the popular parsers, authoring tools, and programming interfaces available. The book also offers several glimpses into how XML can be implemented in the real world and leaves it up to the readers to decipher whether the techniques are appropriate for their needs." I felt it delivered on this promise 100%. I can understand why some others didn't like this book, but I think if you examine what it offers before you buy it you won't be disappointed. Reviewer: A reader from Austin, TX This book is remarkably consistent. It consistently fails to deliver on anything. You could pull together all this information in about 5 minutes from a search for XML from any search engine. I am totally underwhelmed! I hoped to give my boss a book which would explain the power and utility of the XML technolgies available -- fat chance!! If I give him this book we will take a five-year technology step...BACKWARDS! The case study and sample were useless. This is what I did, and this is (kinda) how I did it but...I can't show you because it is proprietary, or copyrighted or...(add your own excuse here!) What a waste of money -- don't bother Reviewer: Michael E. Pouliot from Greenwich, CT USA This book was miserable, and I gave it 2 stars to be polite. The author does not clearly explain XML. I was looking for a book that I could pass off to my staff to help bring them up to speed, and unfortunately this is not it. The author boldly states that the majority of his XML experience is through using Microsoft's XML parser, and the bulk of his examples are Microsoft centric, with a lot of example code in VBScript. His book touches on numerous ways in which other vendors have utilized XML, but does not focus on solid examples of how XML can be used in enterprise applications. The book is extremely short, and is certainly not worth the high price charged. |
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