Customer Reviews

XML in Record Time

5 star:		(2)
4 star:		(2)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(4)

 

 

This book is well arranged. In every chaper, there is a topic, you could follow the it and make progress step by step. I think it give you a clear understanding of XML. However, this is a beginner's book, as I mentioned, if you want to learned more about XML, you have to forward to other books.

Indeed, it explains XML and DTD's pretty well. But probably, you're looking for more. Especially when the back-cover mentions "Coverage includes 'XSL', 'Converting HTML to XML', 'WIDL',..." The book merely 'touches' these topics. For real implementation instructions, it redirects you to the Internet. Other books offer you the same thing AND much more (eg. the 'XML Bible' for great XSL-coverage and 'XML by Example' for a Java-point-of-view).

I gave this book to a new manager in the company to help him up to speed. He is not responsible for dealing with all details of implimentation but when I came to him every day with a new use for XML at work he needed a good read to explain things. This is exactly what this book is. As a technical reference it is really only the introduction. Almost every chapter points to some URL for more information. As a managers introduction to the technology and for ease of reading - it's a 5 out of 5.

I thought this book was supposed to be teaching us XML but it goes on about HTML and how it is the distant cousin of XML and how XML is soon going to be the parent of HTML. The author hasn't even tried to get in-depth of the whole XML concept it seems as though the author just wanted to get a book out and here was a great opportunity for her. The author gets into a subject and does not explain it there and then instead you are referred to another "Skill" in the book. That becomes frustrating. If you really want to learn XML better get another book, you will be wasting your time, money and mind on this book.

The book is intended for beginners with little or no knowledge of HTML / XML. The book is long and it takes a while before you get to introduce the XML code.

After that, the book just offers a lengthy explanation for every sample bit of code. The book does not give any hands-on practice. The author keeps mentioning that "it's time to get your hands dirty" with some XML code, but never tells you to write a sample code.

The book is ok, but you would need another book to give you some hands-on experience.

Overall, the book is nothing to rave about!

From the beginning of the book, the author stated that the buyer of the book will eventually "get their hands dirty" in later chapter. That's what I have been hoping for. After I have finished almost three quarter of the book, I still have not seen any hand-ons tutorial that I could do. All I got from the book was long-winded explaination.

My advise is, find another book if you really want to learn XML.

Warning: Do not buy this book! This was one of the worse technical books ever printed. If you are a serious programmer (which you should be if you are learning XML) you will be wasting your money if you purchase this book. For the first 150 or so pages, it is about HTML and it's basics. It attempted to explain about XML and DTD like other XML books but it seemed like the author lack the knowledge of XML. For every 10 lines of sample XML codes, there are 30 pages explaining each code and syntax. Examples are useless; they have no real world functions besides for displaying on a web browser. If you are looking to learn XML for integration and real world applications, DON'T WASTE MONEY BUYING THIS BOOK.

This book teaches you everything you need to know XML implementations from key concepts and terminology to the realities of mastering existing DTDs. Its a very useful book, however this is only as an introductory book. Advanced topics like Schemas, Namespaces, DOM doesn't even find a passing reference here.

A horrible book. Possibly the worst ever written. If you want to learn XML, please go somewhere else, or at least read through some of this book before buying. It's mostly just a HTML textbook, and the author has no idea what they're talking about. If it were possible to give negative stars, BELIEVE ME!!!! I WOULD!!!

I was totally new to XML when I bought this book. It proved to be very useful, explaining key concepts, enabling correct practices from the start, and not assuming previous knowledge known only to God and the SuperGeek. Loved it!