XML Demystified [Paperback]

James Keogh (Author), Ken Davidson (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: September 26, 2005 | ISBN-10: 0072262109 | ISBN-13: 978-0072262100 | Edition: 1

There is no easier way to learn XML!

XML (Extensible Markup Language) is the language that enables efficient interchange of structured data across the Web. Written in non-technical language, this book covers the details of the language and demonstrates its use through real-world examples. The book also explains how to build an XML application from start to finish.

Editorial Reviews

From the Back Cover

The fast and easy way to learn XML

Start programming in XML right away using this easy-to-follow guide. XML Demystified explains how to build XML web applications that work on any platform or browser. Step-by-step instructions with lots of examples help you learn quickly.

This one-of-a-kind self-teaching text offers:

• An easy way to understand XML
• A quiz at the end of each chapter
• A final exam at the end of the book
• No unnecessary technical jargon
• A time-saving approach

The book begins by introducing you to the building blocks of XML. Then, you'll learn about XML documents, document type definitions (DTDs), XML schema, XLink, XPath, XPointer, XSLT, XML parsers, RSS, XQuery, and MSXML. Featuring end-of-chapter quizzes and a final exam, this book will have you creating XML applications in no time.

Simple enough for a beginner, but challenging enough for an advanced student, XML Demystified is your shortcut to mastering this powerful programming language.

About the Author

Jim Keogh is on the faculty of Columbia University and Saint Peter's College in Jersey City, New Jersey. He developed the e-commerce track at Columbia University. Keogh has spent decades developing applications for major Wall Street corporations and is the author of more than 60 books, including J2EE: The Complete Reference, Java Demystified, ASP.NET Demystified, Data Structures Demystified, and others in the Demystified series.

Ken Davidson is a Columbia University faculty member in the computer science department. In addition to teaching, Davidson develops applications for major corporations in both Java and C++.

Product Details

• Paperback: 221 pages
• Publisher: McGraw-Hill Osborne Media; 1 edition (September 26, 2005)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0072262109
• ISBN-13: 978-0072262100
• Product Dimensions: 9.1 x 7.4 x 0.5 inches
• Shipping Weight: 14.4 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 2.7 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (6 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,787,204 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

12 of 13 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars I'd recommend it as your entry into the world of XML, October 31, 2005

By 

Thomas Duff "Duffbert" (Portland, OR United States) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: XML Demystified (Paperback)

It's tempting to ask what's the big deal about XML. Just make up some tags and off you go! Unfortunately, once you start getting into DTDs, XLink, XPath, and a variety of other X-things, it gets much more complex and confusing. If you want to start understanding the world of XML, start off with XML Demystified by Jim Keogh and Ken Davidson.

Contents: XML - An Inside Look; Creating an XML Document; Document Type Definitions; XML Schema; XLink, XPath, XPointer; XSLT; XML Parsers and Transformations; Really Simple Syndication (RSS); XQuery; MSXML; Final Exam; Answers to Quizzes and Final Exam; Index

At 221 pages, this is not an authoritative reference for everything involving XML. And that's a *good* thing. Keogh and Davidson zero in on the basics of each of the XML technologies, and they do a wonderful job of explaining things in terms any developer can understand. Rather than try and explain every option and nuance of a command or feature, they tell you what it does, how it works, and they show an example. If you work through the material as they present it, you'll end up with a solid understanding of the 90% of XML that you'll use on a regular basis. The other 10% is where you'll head off to buy the 1000 page reference manual to look up that arcane parameter that your co-worker used just because they read about it before you did... :)

I personally was impressed at how they were able to clearly present XSLT in a way that made it obvious. Same with XLink and XPath... I've read the large books and walked away somewhat more confused than when I started. XML Demystified could easily be the starting point for many XML beginners, and I'm pretty sure that you'll end up with the results you were after...

5 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars What XML is about, November 28, 2005

By 

B. Strug - See all my reviews
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This review is from: XML Demystified (Paperback)

It is a kind of book you can read in a weekend, but it will give you a good, although basic, understanding what XML is about. No previous knowledge about XML is required but some idea about HTML seems to be silently assumed as authors put phrases like "similar as in HTML" here and there, so you should at least know what a tag is (not too high requirement).
If you look for a book about programming and using XML in yor applicationlook elsewhere but if you just need to get fast some basic understanding of XML it gives a good start.
Taking into account that many computer books on web applications start with an assumption that you "have a basic understanding of XML" this book will help you to attain this level very fast.
This book will teach you something about both DTD and XML Schemas, but also about XPointer, XPath and XQuery and even how to use a Saxon parser.
So to sum it up good and fast read but very basic.

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

1.0 out of 5 stars a very confusing read, September 1, 2007

By 

Chris Haan - See all my reviews
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This review is from: XML Demystified (Paperback)

I had to stop reading this book about halfway through because there were so many things left unexplained. For example, on page 71, it states about Xlink:type that "There are two possible links: simple and extended." and procedes to briefly explain what these are. Then on page 73 there is a sample XML document containing Xlink:type="arc". So, I'm left wondering, if there are two types of Xlinks, where did "arc" come from. The answer, of course, is that there are not only two possible values for Xlink:type, but you won't find that explained in this book. If you really want to understand XML, pass this book up.