XML Training Classes

This five-day boot camp introduces students to the family of XML languages: XML, XSL/XSLT, XLink, and XPath, as well as related technologies: CSS, DTDs, and Schema. XML and its related languages are used in many industries to standardize the transfer of data and integrate heterogeneous systems. As a text format, XML is easy to digest for many different applications. Different companies in the same industry can share information pulled from their own individual databases by translating it into a common text format (XML) and then sending it to their business partners, suppliers, and customers.

Days 1 and 2: XML, DTDs, and CSS

In these first two days we cover the basics of XML and how to create and validate syntactically-correct and well-formed XML documents. We use the XMLSpy text editor tool. We validate XML documents against DTDs that designate what constitutes a well-formed document. Then we illustrate how to display XML documents in web browsers using CSS. We also introduce the concepts of namespaces and XLink for advanced linking techniques.

Day 3: XML Schema

Schema succeeds DTDs as the language used to describe valid XML files. Schema (XSD files) are valid XML documents themselves and adhere to a standard themselves. A particular schema could designate whether an XML <automobile> element may or may not contain a "milesPerGallon" attribute.

Day 4 and 5: XSLT and XPath

Extensible Style Language encapsulates several concepts, the most useful of which are XSL Templates (XSLT) using XPath. XSLT is a programming language that allows you to manipulate the nodes of XML files. For example, you could use an XSLT template to transform an XML file describing a car into a web page displaying information about the car in <table> tags. XPath lets you precisely designate specify context, parent, child or attribute nodes.

Prerequisites:

For the XSLT portion of the course, experience with at least one programming language is desirable
Ability to create a web page by hand-coding HTML

XML / XSLT / Schema Training