XML in Plain English (In Plain English (IDG)) [Paperback]

Sandra E. Eddy (Author), B. K. DeLong (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: December 15, 2000 | ISBN-10: 0764547445 | ISBN-13: 978-0764547447 | Edition: 2

From creating a customized markup language to modifying complex documents, this compact guide immediately answers any XML (Extensible Markup Language) question by task, tutorial, or description. Brimming with well-organized, instantly accessible information, this updated edition covers the latest version of XML, including XPath, XPointer, XSL, and more, making it a must for any Web developer who wants to make the jump to XML.

Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com Review

XML in Plain English is a no-nonsense companion for XML coders who need a handy reference at their fingertips. This pocket-sized paperback is useful for looking up XML instructions in various ways, but also offers a reference to cascading style sheets (CSS), character tables, and more.

The book begins with a brief overview of the history of hypertext from SGML through HTML and on to XML--the focus of this reference. Author Sandra E. Eddy then covers the basic syntax of XML documents and the interaction of HTML and XML, and shows how to make XML documents publicly available on the Web. The excellent following chapter lets you find XML productions or attributes by looking up an English description of the task you want to accomplish.

The next chapters feature a more detailed XML syntax reference and information on the XLink and XPointer languages, other critical aspects of XML coding; CSS; and DSSSL-O. The first appendix contains a comprehensive set of tables for the Unicode characters and the applicable character sets. Other appendices offer a list of XML tools and editors, a glossary, and a "Webliography" full of URLs for XML-related sites. If you're a serious XML coder, XML in Plain English is a must-have. --Stephen W. Plain --This text refers to an alternate Paperback edition.

From the Back Cover

Two Books in One!
This one of a kind book guide delivers just what you need to make the most of XML, whether you are retrofitting an existing Web site or building a new one from the ground up. The book opens with unique reference sections that let you look things up by task, tag, or term.

Need more answers? The second part delivers concise, example-filled tutorials that show you step by step how to plan, build, and maintain an XML-powered Web site.

Open the Book for Ready-Reference Help...
* Construct XML documents
* Add simple and extended links and pointers to an XML document
* Style XML documents for display or printed output
* Use custom XML elements
* Learn to create DTDs including how to define elements and associated attributes
* Style documents with XSL

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Paperback: 886 pages
• Publisher: Wiley; 2 edition (December 15, 2000)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0764547445
• ISBN-13: 978-0764547447
• Product Dimensions: 8.6 x 5.7 x 1.8 inches
• Shipping Weight: 2.3 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 2.5 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (13 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #8,288,037 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

6 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

1.0 out of 5 stars Avoid this one, November 16, 2000

By 

Robert (Washington, DC) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Xml in Plain English (Paperback)

This is the worst XML documentation I've run across, online or on paper. I am not a total beginner with XML, I didn't expect this book to be a tutorial, and I picked up this book because it seemed like it would get to the point quickly. At first it seemed promising because of its brevity; then I realized that it was written very sloppily. In the Overview (chapter 1), the first mention of a DTD (with no explanation of what it's an abbreviation of), states "XML supports but does not require DTDs". Great. Good thing I knew what a DTD was, because this book wasn't going to tell me. Four pages later, the book tells me, "As you have already learned, a DTD defines rules for document contents." Well, I sure didn't "already learn" it from this book! Amazing that it references prior material that it doesn't contain! The rest of the book is more of the same. Very poor.

7 of 8 people found the following review helpful:

1.0 out of 5 stars XML In Obfuscated English (with errors), May 24, 2001

By 

A. G. Hasler "Tony" (Fife, Scotland) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: XML in Plain English (In Plain English (IDG)) (Paperback)

If you are an XML guru, then a high-density syntax reference may be all you need. You will note that those who have given positive reviews were all reasonably accomplished in XML and happy for the reference material. However, as someone that had never even seen any XML, I found the tutorial incomprehensible. The author seems to have a terrible grasp of English, uses it sloppily, and makes errors to boot. As even those that gave a positive review seem to agree, if you want a book to learn XML give this book a wide berth.

7 of 8 people found the following review helpful:

1.0 out of 5 stars This is a reference guide, not XML in plain English, August 26, 1999

By A Customer

This review is from: Xml in Plain English (Paperback)

You would think a book entitled "...in Plain English" would be about explaining a complicated subject in easily understandable terms. However, this book only gives a brief and very lame introduction to XML. Almost the entire book is a reference guide to the XML and XML related syntax. Since this information can be obtained over the Internet for free it is questionable why this book even exists (maybe that's why they didn't name it more appropriately "Another XML Reference Guide").