Charles F. Goldfarb's XML Handbook (5th Edition) (Charles F. Goldfarb Definitive XML Series) [Paperback]

Charles F. Goldfarb (Author), Paul Prescod (Author)

Book Description

ISBN-10: 0130497657 | ISBN-13: 978-0130497659 | Publication Date: December 8, 2003 | Edition: 5

Sold more than 100,00 copies in all of its editions! The XML Handbook was designed as a starting point for those who want to learn about and experiment with XML. This book is the definitive XML resource: applications, products, technologies, and tutorials.The XML Handbook is a good resource for those starting with XML and even for those who have been working with XML but are struggling to keep up with the latest developments, standards, and tools. In the first and last part of the handbook, the reader can find both a general overview of XML and technical specifics of XML and related standards. The scenarios, case studies, and tool descriptions serve to make XML "real" to the reader and to spark the imagination as to how XML might be used in the reader's own environment.***The foreword is written by Jean Paoli, Microsoft XML Architect. Paoli is providing the following quote for the cover: "This book is an excellent starting point where you can learn and experiment with XML. As the inventor of SGML, Dr. Charles F. Goldfarb is one of the most respected authorities on structured information."

Editorial Reviews

From the Back Cover

The proven resource for the world of XML and Web services—over 100,000 copies in print in six languages!

2 CD-ROMs: 200 no-time-limit FREE packages

• The proven XML resource for technologies, standards, tools, and applications—clearly explained in plain English!
• Largest edition ever! Comprehensive revision covers Web services, rich clients, XML on the desktop, forms, publishing, voice, wireless, XML security, and much, much more.
• Revised and enhanced tutorials: XML 1.0/1.1, XPath 1.0/2.0/XQuery, XSLT 1.0/2.0, XML Schema, XSL-FO, Semantic Web, and more.
• Two CD-ROMs with an amazing set of XML resources: 200 genuinely free, no-time-limit software packages, major trialware, XML specs, and more. Includes the IBM alphaWorks XML suite plus a free Ontopia topic map browser with sample maps and instructions for making your own!

Adobe® FrameMaker®—Free Tryout on CD-ROM

“This book is an excellent starting point where you can learn and experiment with XML. As the inventor of SGML, Dr. Charles F. Goldfarb is one of the most respected authorities on structured information.”

—From the Foreword by Jean Paoli, Microsoft XML architect and co-editor of the W3C XML specification

Developers, architects, managers, and consultants rely on its technical accuracy, accessible writing style, and broad and deep coverage.

Learn XML (154 pp.)
Start by learning what XML is, why it came to be, how it differs from HTML, and the handful of vital concepts that you must understand to apply XML quickly and successfully—in your business and in your code. Learn when to use data or documents, how to decipher misleading industry jargon, and the key ideas of XML programming.

Use XML (564 pp.)
Experience XML through illustrated explanations of technologies, tools, and applications: Web services (SOAP, REST, rich clients), security, integration, content management, databases, conversion, syndication, telephony, wireless, customization, portals, office suites, graphics, e-commerce (B2B, B2C, EDI, exchanges), publication (WYSIWYG, XSL, DSSSL), Semantic Web, and over 300 industry applications!

Master XML (406 pp.)
Master the details from friendly, in-depth tutorials: XML (the full language: 1.0/1.1, namespaces, entities, DTDs), XML Schema (XSDL, datatypes), XPath 1.0/2.0/XQuery, XSLT 1.0/2.0, XSL-FO, InfoSet, VoiceXML, Web services (WSDL, UDDI), compression, XLink, XPointer (framework and schemes), and Semantic Web (topic maps, RDF). Plus: Over 250 acronyms defined!

About the Author

CHARLES F. GOLDFARB is the father of XML technology. He invented SGML, the Standard Generalized Markup Language on which both XML and HTML are based. You can find him on the Web at www.xmlbooks.com.

PAUL PRESCOD is a leading XML software developer, trainer, and consultant. He was a member of the W3C group that developed XML.

Charles F. Goldfarb’s XML Handbook includes participation by industry leaders, including experts from some sponsor companies: Adobe,® Microsoft,® Innodata Isogen,™ Intel,® Next Solution,® ObjectBuilders,® Antenna House,® Ontopia,® and Synthbank®.

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Paperback: 1280 pages
• Publisher: Prentice Hall PTR; 5 edition (December 8, 2003)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0130497657
• ISBN-13: 978-0130497659
• Product Dimensions: 9.2 x 7 x 1.9 inches
• Shipping Weight: 4 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 3.6 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (11 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,645,313 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

Discover books, learn about writers, read author blogs, and more.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

22 of 23 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Full-spectrum Applications of XML, July 3, 2002

By 

Xiaofan LIN (San Jose, CA USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Charles F. Goldfarb's XML Handbook (4th Edition) (Paperback)

In this book you can find almost any applications of XML, including the latest development of Web services and VoiceXML.

It's especially for students who want to look for a project/thesis topic on XML or CTOs who wish to understand the business various scenarios where XML can be applied.

Admittedly, with 69 chapters in about 1100 pages, this book cannot have too much depth. Don't expect to use it as a daily programming reference book. It's more like a jump board that can set you in a specific direction of the XML world --- Then you should consult a more detailed book on that specific topic. It also introduces the various business software around XML.

Besides, this book is very entertaining.

15 of 17 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars Unique resource, with issues, January 12, 2004

By 

Jack D. Herrington "engineer and author" (Silicon Valley, CA) - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)    (REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Charles F. Goldfarb's XML Handbook (5th Edition) (Charles F. Goldfarb Definitive XML Series) (Paperback)

The fifth edition of the XML Handbook is an interesting beast all in
itself. It's huge. The size of no other 'handbook' I have ever read,
weighing in at 1200 pages. My guess is that this book has grown from
edition to edition and has become the beast we see now. Starting with
the negative:

* The organization of the book needs work. The chapters are in an
almost random order. For example, the chapter that describes XML at an
introductory level is number 51, which is almost at the back of the
book.

* The organization of each chapter needs to be normalized into a format
that would ensure that each possesses valuable information. This book
is somewhat similar to the classic Design Patterns book in that it
covers a wide variety of topics. Having a chapter format that readers
can follow will make it easier to use the book as a reference work.

* The graphics are inconsistent at best. Some are horrible in quality.
Others are too large. I wouldn't have bought the book if I were
flipping through it at the store. The quality of the graphics, which
seem to be largely borrowed company graphics, is too inconsistent.

* The chapters are very short. There are 69 chapters in a 1200 page
book. You do the math. The chapter on XSL:FO, for example, is six pages
long. Barely enough text to introduce the topic, let alone explain it.

* The book is not self-referential. For example, the topic of vector
versus bitmap graphics is covered twice. And the chapter on acronyms
simply lists their definitions without pointing the reader back into
the book for more information about where those acronyms are explained
in more detail. My guess is that this is an outgrowth of the organic
development of the book.

All that being said, I am still giving the book a good rating because I
believe that it is a unique resource in the XML world. It's chapters
cover a variety of topics so sweeping that it provides a high level
overview of the entire map of XML development. Chapter 66, which
provides an overview of all of the different MLs is very good. Other
chapters, such as the RDF chapter (36) are also a very good
introduction. The breadth of the coverage is what makes this book
unique. All of the drill-down technology specifics are covered better
in other books.

Is it worth buying? Tough to say. I think for someone tasked with a
high-level understanding of XML it is a valuable resource because it
provides an excellent tree-top perspective of the XML landscape. For
someone who is thick in the implementation of XML standards, it's
probably not worth it.

What the book really needs is a thorough development editing pass to
reorganize the book, normalize the chapters, remove redundant content,
and to fix the problems with the illustrations and the text.

19 of 24 people found the following review helpful:

1.0 out of 5 stars More for managers than programmers, June 28, 2002

By 

T. Rourke "T J Rourke" (Omaha, NE USA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Charles F. Goldfarb's XML Handbook (4th Edition) (Paperback)

This book does have a wide array of topics, but no depth. There is a lot of history, which is to be expected from a guy who invented something like SGML. It's a big and heavy book with little practical material. Mostly academic, historical, and weak on details. Many chapters were not written by the authors listed on the front, but by vendors, and some of their material looks like marketing BS.

In a few places it mentions specific tools, but most of it is hand-waving, "this stuff can do everything in the world" sort of material. The tutorials are very sketchy, and the chapters on how to do DTDs and schemas are incomplete. The basic information about XML itself isn't even covered until you've plowed through 760 pages. A lot of theory and almost no practice - and the practice there is, is so basic and incomplete that it's not worth the effort to read.

The two CD's contain mostly 30-day trial shovelware you could download off the web for free - not the "175 genuinely free software packages" touted on the front cover. A lot of those "175 packages" are in fact just W3C specifications. It's the kind of book you want on your shelf if you want others to think you're technical. If you don't know anything about XML and need some technical knowledge, go ahead and get it. If you are a programmer or anyone looking for details on things like schemas, DTDs and syntax, look elsewhere.

A more useful, more concise and much cheaper alternative would be CodeNotes for XML, by Gregory Brill.