Professional XML [ILLUSTRATED] (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)

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.

Product Description

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.

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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 (40 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #1,496,267 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

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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 (Montreal, Canada) - See all my reviews

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.

27 of 28 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars ATTN: unix/java engineers -- way too much IE/VBScript/MS!, August 28, 2000

By	dan bender (baltimore, md United States) - See all my reviews

I guess I expected that a platform independent standard such as XML would have been better expained using a platform independent language such as java. For the unix/java engineers out there....this book contains much useful information and don't get me wrong, I learned a lot. The question is, would I have learned as much or possibly more if I didn't have to put up with 90% of the code examples written in VBScript? Many examples require Internet Explorer. Content was up-to-date and informative but somewhat repetative (12 authors).

51 of 58 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)

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.