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XML @ Web Programming
Programming Shed : Programmer Store & Resources |
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XML Index - XML Book :
XML Pocket Reference (2nd Edition)
by Robert Eckstein, Michel Casabianca (Contributor) Paperback - 96 pages 2nd edition (April 2001) O'Reilly & Associates ISBN: 0596001339 Dimensions (in inches): 0.30 x 6.95 x 4.25 Even hot dog Web coders proficient in XML need a little refresher once and a while. Although some portions of XML are still very fluid, the handy XML Pocket Reference offers quick access to the syntax and usage rules of this next-generation language. At the front of the book, a crash course in XML quickly spells out the important terminology, along with extremely short examples of XML, Document Type Definition (DTD), and Extensible Stylesheet Language (XSL) documents. The book also includes a nice bulleted list of cautions and rules to follow if you want to create valid XML documents. A tip section entitled, "Unlearning Bad Habits" offers handy warnings that are especially useful for those of us who occasionally slip into sloppy HTML coding behaviors that XML won't tolerate. The remainder of the title comprises reference sections devoted to XML, DTDs, XSL, XLink, and XPointer. These sections offer a balanced mix of both straight syntax references and brief general explanations of key topics. Short examples are in abundance to illustrate usage with accompanying explanatory text. The authors are very up-front about the changing nature of the XSL, XLink, and XPointer and point out that even their freshly published material on these subjects may soon be out of date. You won't find any big-picture look at the importance or implementation of XML in the real world. However, if you're already sold on the technology and working with it, this little guide will be a handy companion. --Stephen W Plain Topics covered: XML overview, well-formed XML rules, using elements and attributes, syntax and usage reference to XML, DTD, XSL, XLink, XPointer. Book Description: XML, the Extensible Markup Language, is the next-generation markup language for the Web. It provides a more structured (and therefore more powerful) medium than HTML, allowing you to define new document types and stylesheets as needed. Although the generic tags of HTML are sufficient for everyday text, XML gives you a way to add rich, well-defined markup to electronic documents. The XML Pocket Reference, 2nd Edition, is both a handy introduction to XML terminology and syntax, and a quick... Customer Reviews Reviewer: Vince O'Sullivan from London, England. I wish more reference books were written like this. The book contains everything you need to know to get started with XML and keep you going for a long time. Most of the book is a straight reference but it opens with a chapter that will enable you to develop a simple XML document. The examples are short but suffiient. I found the section on bad habits very useful (being guilty, as a HTML developer, of some). One day you might need a fifty dollar, thousand page tome but this book may put that day off for a surprisingly long time. Well worth it. Reviewer: John van Rij from Vancouver, CANADA XML Pocket Reference is a true ode to the concept of "Pocket Reference". It doesn't matter if you are a beginner or an experienced developer, this book that is just a bit larger than your remote control will satisfy your expectations. The first 10 pages of this 97 pages booklet will get you quickly up and running with the terminology, good enough to understand the structure and to be able to discuss the concept with colleagues. As in most O'Reilly books, the writer expects you to have some experience in programming as it discusses the concept and syntax quickly and without major examples. The rest of the booklet is a reference to XML elements and attributes, document type definitions and the extensible stylesheet language. This section is a great reference as everything is easy to find and well indexed. For beginners this part of the "book" is a great but sometimes complex tutorial as every section is supported by quick samples of code. When I bought this book, I was sceptic with the idea that this book was going to get me developing XML within 1 day. But O'Reilly proved that I was wrong. In less than a day I had my first XML page up and running, and now I use this book to give me the basics for every concept I try to implement. One reviewer was right when he said on O'Reilly's site that you don't need a 500-page book to learn or develop XML. Reviewer: Daniel LAN from Montreal, Quebec Canada This book is ok, the first half part is pretty good. It covers XML basic and DTD very well, but it does not cover schema; it covers XSLT/XSLFO also, although there are something inaccurate inside; its part for XLink and XPointer is useless and wrong; and there is nothing for XML database or XSP. This book may be helpful, but you need another book as < Reviewer: A reader from New Zealand This book is exactly what I want on hand when developing software. It is clearly written, logically organised and accompanies it's references with simple unambiguous examples. It isn't suitable for learning about XML from scratch, but for people who know the topic and need occassional prompting on detail when working it is nigh perfect (I say nigh because personally I'd lay it out a little differently with some tables of functions, but Amazon doesn't have a 4.5 star ranking so I gave it 5 because it deserves more than 4). |
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