Professional ASP XML [Illustrated] [Paperback]

Mark Baartse (Author), Dinar Dalvi (Author), Stephen Hahn (Author), Stephen Mohr (Author), Richard Blair (Author), Alex Homer (Author), Corey Haines (Author), John Slater (Author), Luca Bolognese (Author), Kevin Williams (Author)

Book Description

Series: Programmer to Programmer | Publication Date: January 2000

XML, the Extensible Markup Language, is a platform-independent language for describing data. The XML and related specifications, as well as the Document Object Model, have all been developed with language independence in mind. This was done to allow any programmer to use these powerful protocols and object models in their own language of choice, thus providing a huge development potential for the XML community and offering a myriad of opportunities to developers working with established technologies.

ASP has long been leading technology for server-side, dynamic web applications. And XML, as the newest markup language and a standard format for the universal sharing of data, is undoubtedly set to become an intrinsic part of all major development both on the Web, and in the wider business community. The next generation of web sites will inevitably combine these technologies as e-commerce matures and developers look for more efficient ways to integrate Internet presence with business systems.

Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com Review

Microsoft's Active Server Pages (ASP) and the Extensible Markup Language (XML) are two of the hottest Web technologies, but each, because it is a complex topic in its own right, usually is documented individually. Professional ASP XML ties the two together in an important way, illustrating how to utilize them both to produce next-generation Web applications.

This product of several Wrox authors shows how and where XML fits in with ASP development, and whets the reader's appetite for creative solutions to typical data-handling problems. Because the focus of the book is a step beyond the XML specification itself, the basics of XML are covered up front in a quick and practical discussion. The authors do a great job of explaining the Document Object Model, as well as the DTD-versus-schema controversy. Then it's on to the fun stuff: a look at how to build XSL style sheets dynamically from a database, bind XML data locally with data islands, and construct a component that encapsulates reusable XML file operations.

The best way to grasp the power of XML, however, is to see it in action. Fortunately, the authors devote a large portion of the book to case studies that use XML in various ways: to drive an online survey system, generate programmer documentation for DLLs, represent a shopping cart, and serve as the glue behind a workflow application. If you're developing for the Web, sooner or later you will find XML either useful or necessary. This book should be required reading for any serious ASP developer. --Stephen W. Plain

Topics covered:

• XML syntax
• DTDs and schemas
• XSL and CSS
• ASP/XML integration,
• ADO/XML integration
• Client-side XML data binding
• XML procedure libraries
• Schema repositories
• SOAP
• Data transferring
• Data presentation

From the Publisher

This book has been selected by the editors of Wrox Press to be part of the Wroxbase website.

This book is for intermediate to advanced ASP programmers, who have little or no knowledge of XML, and want to expand their programming ability by adding XML skills to their repertoire. XML will be explained from the ground up. However, other technologies will not be discussed in such detail and it is assumed that the user is familiar with other Internet techniques on the Microsoft platform, such as (D)HTML, client-side scripting with JScript, and programming in Visual Basic. You should have at least a basic understanding of three-tier architectures like Microsoft DNA.

If you have read or heard a bit about XML and wonder how to use it best, building on your existing programming skills, then this book is for you!

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Paperback: 883 pages
• Publisher: Peer Information Inc.; 1st edition (January 2000)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1861004028
• ISBN-13: 978-1861004024
• Product Dimensions: 9.2 x 7.3 x 1.9 inches
• Shipping Weight: 3.3 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 3.4 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (31 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,564,378 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

23 of 23 people found the following review helpful:

2.0 out of 5 stars Not well written, February 21, 2001

By 

Donald Derrick (Vancouver, BC, Canada) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Professional ASP XML (Paperback)

ASP XML is simply not well written. I shall compare it to an EXCELLENT wrox book 'Beginning JavaScript' to explain myself.

Beginning JavaScript has a superb index, in 5-10 seconds, I have a reference to information I need at any time. ASP XML has virtually no index - it has been useful exactly 0 times. This means you have to read all 800+ pages to get good information.

ASP XML has a decent object reference, but no cross-reference to code (you have to scan the whole book to find applications), BJS has excellent code samples in the Core object technology appendix.

ASP XML has out-of-date and inaccurate information on XSL (more accuratly, it is missing info on XSLT), BJS describes differences between JavaScript versions much better.

ASP XML's chapter categories are rather convoluted, BJS's categories are very straightforward and follow the proper pattern for any description of a programming environment.

ASP XML is still a beginner/intermediate book, so it should have: Introduction, DOM, XPath, XSLT, XML and CSS, String Functions, Database Functions, and then the advanced topics. The book skipped details on XPath (trust me) and details on string functions, making my knowledge inadequate to understand the rest of it. Translation, the book felt incomplete.

It may be that all of what I needed to understand XML really is in the book, but I can't find it because it is so disorganized.

I know the authors are brilliant (Having seen some of their programs) but if I can't understand them, it doesn't matter.

Donald Derrick

36 of 41 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars If you know ASP and want to use XML - this is for you, August 29, 2000

By 

Chris Chandler - See all my reviews

This review is from: Professional ASP XML (Paperback)

I thought I better add my voice to the others who have given their praises for this great work. I had actually been looking all over for a book with this exact subject and finally found it (thanks Wrox). Personally, I am so busy with work and family that I haven't had time to sit down and do a thorough reading, but every chapter I have gone through (most of them) have been great!!!

I have been working with ASP for a while, but the opportunity for a project (it seems like it is just for fun) has come up where my boss wanted me to create a survey building tool with ASP and XML - this has been my lifesaver as I have worked with XML, but not too much on the development side. So I was familiar, but didn't have any in-depth knowledge. (Note: Ironically, there was even a case study for an on-line survey (similar to what I have been asked to do).)

The reading is easy, but don't mistake that for this book being simplistic. It isn't! It is for "professionals" who are looking to enhance and polish their skills with other technologies. If you're a newby to web development, and want to learn ASP, check out SAMS "Teach Yourself Active Server Pages 3.0" by Scott Mitchell - he's the man from 4GuysFromRolla.com and does an excellent job. If you're new to XML - check out either Wrox's "Beginning XML" or Que's "XML By Example" You shouldn't go wrong with either of these.

Again, this book has been WORTH EVERY PENNY and I believe later will yeild an even higher return from my investment in it as I develop my skills with XML and ASP even more. Buy this book - you won't regret it.

17 of 18 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars This is the resource you have been looking for!, July 28, 2000

By 

Wayne Bishop (Bothell, WA USA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Professional ASP XML (Paperback)

If you are working on an ASP based project using XML this is possibly the best book currently available. One of things that makes it unqiue is that is shows specific examples of using objects and methods that incorporate the XML Document Object Model using server side scripting techniques (MSXML.DLL). Most XML books currently available provide information on client side data binding. Not very useful for enterprise development projects.

This book in addition to "ASP Databases" will solve all your questions dealing with ASP, ADO, and XML integration.