Professional XML [Paperback]

Mark Birbeck (Author), Michael Kay (Author), stev Livingstone (Author), Stephen F. Mohr (Author), Jonathan Pinnock (Author), Brian Loesgen (Author), Steven Livingston (Author), Didier Martin (Author), Nikola Ozu (Author), Mark Seabourne (Author), David Baliles (Author)

Book Description

Series: Programmer to Programmer | Publication Date: January 2000

XML, otherwise known as eXtensible Mark Up language is the latest buzz-word on the Internet, but it's a rapidly maturing technology with powerful real-world applications, particularly for the management, display and organization of data. The book's scope is XML, XSL, and the whole Document Object Model. It also investigates SAX, WAP, XML linking, XML e-commerce, server to server XML and XML databases. This book is a broad compendium that investigates and describes how the total XML concept will work for programmers.

Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com Review

A serious look at how to use XML in sophisticated real-world Web applications, Professional XML goes beyond your run-of-the-mill tutorial by giving you practical examples and techniques.

The book focuses on W3C XML and the various enabling technologies that are becoming entwined with XML. It provides three threads of content, representing the different angles from which readers will approach XML. The first covers the core material, including well-formed syntax, data modeling, and the Document Object Model (DOM)--a critical programming interface to XML documents. The other two threads cover the most common usages of XML: as a data format and transport mechanism, and as a visual presentation language for human interaction.

The material is aimed at Web developers who already have a handle on standard Web architectures and are looking into what XML can add to the mix. Chapters on where XML fits into eBusiness and the Wireless Application Protocol (WAP) illustrate how powerfully XML can impact tomorrow's Internet-driven marketplace. Four case studies explore rather advanced applications as well.

While Professional XML provides an overview of XML, it's best to read it as a secondary resource after you get the basics from a traditional primer. This fine work will then propel you to the frontiers of XML technology. --Stephen W. Plain

Topics covered: XML syntax, Document Type Definitions (DTD), data modeling, Document Object Model (DOM), Simple API for XML (SAX) 1.0, namespaces, schemas, linking, XML--database integration, server to server transfers, eBusiness applications, Wireless Application Protocol (WAP), and SOAP.

From the Publisher

A definitive, practical guide to XML, this book discusses the latest standards surrounding the core XML 1.0 W3C recommendation. It is also a comprehensive guide to applying XML and the technologies associated with it in professional level applications.

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Paperback: 750 pages
• Publisher: Peer Information Inc.; 1st edition (January 2000)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1861003110
• ISBN-13: 978-1861003119
• Product Dimensions: 9.1 x 7.3 x 2.1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 3.8 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 3.7 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (41 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #2,652,912 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

117 of 126 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars Good reference book, not a learning one, March 20, 2000

By 

Maxime Bombardier - See all my reviews

This review is from: Professional XML (Paperback)

I've found this book very hard to understand as a first book on XML. If you know what XML is about but are looking for practical real-life exemples, look elsewhere. If you know XML and want to know everything about it's internal work and how to work with DTD, that would be your book.

I've also ordered the Professional XML IE5 Programmer's Reference at the same time and this book gave me an overview of what I can do with XML on the Internet and THEN I had an idea of what to do of the Professional XML book.

You have to ask you those questions : Do I need to know how to show XML with XSL, ASP, DHTML, HTML? If yes, look elsewhese first. Do I need an XML reference to know how to create XML files? If yes, look no further.

52 of 59 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Exactly what I needed, very timely..., February 21, 2000

By 

J. Wright (Florida) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Professional XML (Paperback)

If you have started to play with XML but need to know where to go, this is the book for you. I rate this one as a "must have" book from Wrox just like the Professional ASP book... both are the top books on the market in their respective fields. I am using XML for content transformation and for Server to Server solutions so I was getting stuff done (in xml) but still had lots of questions. This book covers all the basic stuff and goes into some future technology as well but for the most part this book is for the working programmer who has to produce code quickly but couldn't figure everything out from site hopping.

23 of 24 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars A Mixed Bag, July 31, 2002

By 

JB (USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Professional XML, 2nd Edition (Programmer to Programmer) (Paperback)

It is easy to tell that this book was written by 12 different authors. The quality and writing style of each chapter varies widely. I thought the chapters on XPath, XSLT, DOM, SAX2, and SOAP were well written, but I was disappointed by some of the others.

The chapter on XML Schemas was the worst, in my opinion. This is a very important subject, but it is given the same amount of space as much less important topics. As a result, the author of this chapter tries to cover too much in too little space and ends up being quite confusing. Examples are thrown out followed by only partial explanations, and the author forgets to do some basic things like showing a sample XML document to match the sample XML Schemas in the examples. If you need to understand XML Schemas, skip this chapter and go directly to "Professional XML Schemas," which is very well written book on the subject.

This book is also too large and attempts to cover too many obscure topics. For example, it wastes a chapter on "XML Schema Alternatives" when it is clear that XML Schema is the approach that will be used by almost everyone going forward.

Finally, my standard complaint about all WROX books is that the font they use is too small! I feel like I'm reading a telephone book. Give the readers a break by taking out some of the less important chapters and increasing the font size.