Books

Average customer rating: Choppy and poorly written Fairly good, but not practical for non-Microsoft users Good introduction In need of some serious editing Very helpful for programmers who need to understand XML

Beginning XML (Programmer to Programmer) David Hunter , Andrew Watt , Jeff Rafter , Jon Duckett , Danny Ayers , Nicholas Chase , Joe Fawcett , Tom Gaven , and Bill Patterson Manufacturer: Wrox ProductGroup: Book Binding: Paperback XML | Extensible Languages | Programming | Computers & Internet | Subjects | Books General | Programming | Computers & Internet | Subjects | Books General | Languages & Tools | Programming | Computers & Internet | Subjects | Books General | Software | Computers & Internet | Subjects | Books Look Inside Computer Books | Trip | Specialty Stores | Books All Amazon Upgrade | Amazon Upgrade | Stores | Books Computers & Internet | Amazon Upgrade | Stores | Books General | Software Books | Custom Stores | Stores | Software Similar Items: Beginning JavaScript XML in a Nutshell, Third Edition XSLT: Programmer's Reference (Programmer to Programmer) XML Weekend Crash Course (with CD-ROM) XSLT 2.0 Programmer's Reference (Programmer to Programmer) ASIN: 0764570773

Amazon.com

Very little space is wasted detailing the history of XML and its relation to SGML, as is the case in many other titles. The argument for the importance of XML is made quickly, and the basics of well-formed syntax are tackled right off. One notable distinction of this book is its excellent coverage of related technologies, such as cascading style sheets (CSS) and relational databases.

In addition to discussing the crucial companion standards to the core XML language (DTDs, XSL, and XSLT), the book adds a nice perspective to the broad range of applications in which XML can play a role. One section, "Other Uses for XML," illustrates how XML can be used to serialize object models, creating stateless objects and utilizing the Resource Description Framework (RDF). Case studies on--among other things--how XML can be used to build discussion groups, and provide B2B data transfer, round out the text. This book is perfect for Web programmers who are turning their attention to XML for the first time. It imparts a solid understanding of the XML forest and XML trees. --Stephen W. Plain

Topics covered:

• Well-formed XML
• Cascading style sheets (CSS)
• XSLT and Xpath
• Document Object Model (DOM)
• Simple API for XML (SAX)
• XML/database integration schemas
• Document Type Definitions (DTDs)
• Namespaces
• B2B data-transfer applications
• Discussion group applications

Book Description

Beginning XML, 3rd Edition, like the first two editions, begins with a broad overview of the technology and then focuses on specific facets of the various specifications for the reader. This book teaches you all you need to know about XML: what it is, how it works, what technologies surround it, and how it can best be used in a variety of situations, from simple data transfer to using XML in your Web pages. It builds on the strengths of the first and second editions, and provides new material to reflect the changes in the XML landscape — notably RSS and SVG.

Download Description

Extensible Markup Language (XML) is a rapidly maturing technology with powerful real-world applications, particularly for the management, display, and organization of data. Together with its many related technologies it is an essential technology for anyone using markup languages on the web or internally.

This book teaches you all you need to know about XML — what it is, how it works, what technologies surround it, and how it can best be used in a variety of situations, from simple data transfer to using XML in your web pages. It builds on the strengths of the first edition, and provides new material to reflect the changes in the XML landscape — notably SOAP and Web Services, and the publication of the XML Schemas Recommendation by the W3C.

What does this book cover?

Here are just a few of the things this book covers:

• XML syntax and writing well-formed XML
• Using XML Namespaces
• Transforming XML into other formats with XSLT
• XPath and XPointer for locating specific XML data
• XML Validation using DTDs and XML Schemas
• Manipulating XML documents with the DOM and SAX 2.0
• SOAP and Web Services
• Displaying XML using CSS and XSL
• Incorporating XML into tradition databases and n-tier architectures

  Customer Reviews:

  Choppy and poorly written.......2007-01-08

  (I don't have time for a full review right now,so I will write a few comments and try to add to them.)
  
  I knew very little about XML, so this sounded promising. As of Chapter 8, my general comments are:
  
  1. The teaching structure is often murky. At many spots, the authors don't seem to grasp what a beginner needs to know first in order to go to the next step. This makes the material unnecessarily difficult and confusing.
  
  2. Instead of one example page, for some reason the authors will sometimes create one XML page to illustrate a point, then create another completely different page to illustrate the next point, then go back to the first one for the next point, etc. It's inexplicable. The book would be much easier to follow, and probably easier to write, if they built one XML page from scratch and used/modified it throughout the book.
  
  3. There are too many editorial screw-ups, such as "Figures" that are labeled incorrectly or don't exist -- that is, the text will say "see Figure 7 for the output" and Figure 7 will be the wrong one. I really have no patience with expensive books that don't bother to pay for one thorough copy-editing.
  
  I am currently on Chapter 8 (XSLT), one of the worst-written ones. After a completely unnecessary discussion about "procedural" versus "declarative" programming (I imagine every reader is at least basically familiar with css, and if not, it is hardly difficult to understand "declarative" programming), the book just starts throwing XLST terms at you, with no foundation as to what they are doing or why. I finally gave up and pulled up the online W3C tutorial. This tutorial is free, covers most of the material, and is well-organized and easy to understand. Teaching in logical order isn't that hard.
  
  There is a ton of good information in "Beginning XML", and the information on how to find, install, and use software such as Saxon and Schematron is invaluable. It is a shame that the authors didn't take the time to actually give the book to a few XML novices and then rewrite it as the introductory text it is supposed to be. The poorly organized writing at least doubles, and often triples, the time, energy, and painful confusion needed to learn the material.

  Fairly good, but not practical for non-Microsoft users.......2006-02-17

  I am taking an XML class at the University using this book as the required course text. The authors do a good job at highlighting the key technologies, and the examples and tutorials significantly enhance the material. I enjoy the straight-forward manner with which Hunter and his friends explains what the example code in the book does. My only disappointment is that the book does not explain in enough detail how to use XML technologies on non-Microsoft systems. I believe a greater emphasis on Java and non-VB/ASP/.NET can extend the benefits this book otherwise offers.

  Good introduction.......2006-02-15

  As other reviewers have already pointed out; this is probably the best introduction to XML. XML is a wide field and is changing rapidly, and it is impossible to find a single introductory text book that covers all XML topics. So it is with this book: it covers all topics except XSL formatting objects, but that topic is covered in the more advanced "Professional XML" from the same publisher.

  In need of some serious editing.......2005-10-14

  This book is for beginning programmers only and also in need of some serious editing.
  
  I have to agree with other comments which describe this as a poorly written book. I have read other Wrox books and have enjoyed them. This book is torturously wordy. Annoying, unfunny jokes and quips abound. (as opposed to "fine ham") I found myself skipping/speed-reading entire paragraphs and pages just to get to the meat of the subject. Fortunately, once you do find the meat, the book seems very helplful.
  
  If you have experience in programming and want a book that quickly brings you up to speed on XML and its associated technologies, this is NOT the book. Try O'Reilly's XML in a Nutshell instead.

  Very helpful for programmers who need to understand XML.......2005-09-21

  A very helpful combination of "workbook" and technical reference written for programmers who are object-oriented, dynamically HTML'd and JavaScripted, but not so XML-ly.
  
  What I learned at home, I immediately applied at work. This book lays out XML, chapter by chapter, with each author serving up a specialty layer of information which "cognates" the XML jig-saw into a more complete picture.
  
  Being "hands-on" with a DOS Editor and an Internet Explorer icon will help. I found the "Try It Out" examples and the "How It Works" explanations to be meaningful and practical exercises. Especially in the chapters covering well-formed XML, XPath, XSL and the Document Object Model (DOM).
  
  I can also now appreciate how XSL stylesheet transformations were explained only after the authors first described Namespaces and the XPath language, both of which are critical (as I found out) to understanding and using XSL stylesheets to "transform" your well-formed XML document into an IE web page or an Excel spreadsheet.
  
  I haven't had the opportunity to use the Web Services chapters yet, but now I know more about "Web Services" and how XML plays a role.
  
  I recommend this book to techy, programmer types who want and need to expand their skill sets. But, keep in mind, this is a math book, not a novel. You have to work the exercises, then analyze them before you can put them to use.
  

  Average customer rating: Excellent intro to XML, XSL, and AJAX Weak explanations & contrived examples Clearly written with great coverage Has everything! Works for both beginning and experienced developers

  Beginning XML with DOM and Ajax: From Novice to Professional (Beginning: From Novice to Professional) Sas Jacobs Manufacturer: Apress ProductGroup: Book Binding: Paperback Web Site Design | Internet Commerce | Web Development | Computers & Internet | Subjects | Books General | Scripting & Programming | Web Development | Computers & Internet | Subjects | Books Software Development | Software Design | Programming | Computers & Internet | Subjects | Books XML | Extensible Languages | Programming | Computers & Internet | Subjects | Books General | Programming | Computers & Internet | Subjects | Books General | Computers & Internet | Subjects | Books General | Software | Computers & Internet | Subjects | Books Look Inside Computer Books | Trip | Specialty Stores | Books Software Development | Design & Development | Software Books | Custom Stores | Stores | Software General | Software Books | Custom Stores | Stores | Software Similar Items: Beginning JavaScript with DOM Scripting and Ajax: From Novice to Professional (Beginning: from Novice to Professional) DOM Scripting: Web Design with JavaScript and the Document Object Model JavaScript: The Definitive Guide CSS Mastery: Advanced Web Standards Solutions Beginning Ajax with PHP: From Novice to Professional ASIN: 1590596765

  Book Description

  The book remains a must-have resource for introductory programming, and a useful tool for more intermediate developers.

  — Jason Salas, Guam's Mr. Media

  The introduction on XML is succint and concise.

  — Phu Ly, If ..Else

  Don't waste time on 1,000-page tomes full of syntax; this book is all you need to get ahead in XML development. Renowned web developer Sas Jacobs presents an essential guide to XML. Beginning XML with DOM and Ajax is practical and comprehensive. It includes everything you need to know to get up to speed with XML development quickly and painlessly.

  Jacobs begins by presenting an overview of XML--it's syntax, rules, vocabularies, and the hows and whys of validity. She also covers the current state of XML support in today's web browsers. Next, Jacobs covers all of the basic essential uses of XML. You'll learn how to display XML data using CSS, and transform XML data using XSLT. You'll even learn about dynamic XML scripting using the XML DOM.

  The last part of the book covers advanced server-side XML uses in real-world applications, including displaying XML data in Flash, and XML-driven PHP and ASP.NET applications. And last but not least, Jacobs provides a perfect introduction to Ajax development.

  Customer Reviews:

  Excellent intro to XML, XSL, and AJAX.......2007-02-13

  This book is excellent as an introduction to XML as used in web development. Whether you've been using XML for data storage but would like to take it to the next level, or haven't ever used XML, this book is a must-read. It doesn't tell you everything you need to know, but it gets you started and tells you how you can find out the rest on the Web. Its countless examples are all well explained.
  
  I use Professional Ajax by Zakas, McPeak, and Fawcett along with it. If one book may leave a question the other has the answers.

  Weak explanations & contrived examples.......2007-01-20

  This book tries to do too much and falls down on many accounts. The two chapters on XSLT left me wondering what in the world was going on. Jacobs provides examples of how to use XSLT, but fails to explain how the code really works.
  
  The examples are very contrived. For instance, Jacobs shows how to use PHP to retrieve a result set from a MySQL database. Then, we see convoluted steps to convert the data into XML. Then we have to write XSLT to manipulate the XML. It would be much more efficient and practical to use PHP's object-oriented MySQL capabilities to spit the results into XHTML, or use PHP's own DOM capabilities to manipulate the XML.
  
  This book simply fails because it tries to cover too much information in its short length, and also due to the many weak, impractical examples throughout. To sum it up, it's all examples and no substance.

  Clearly written with great coverage.......2006-07-25

  Being a developer who uses XML extensively but for very specific applications I was interested in reading this book to help expand my understanding of XML-specific issues as they relate to Ajax and the browser environment.
  
  I feel that Sas has accomplished her mission in giving a very thorough overview of the topic of XML. This book was very well written, clear and concise. Of particular interest to me were the examples of developing with XSLT, using the CSS functionality and developing in tandem with server side scripting. I thought the examples were relevant and the sections that were shorter led me to other resources where I might continue my explorations in depth. I prefer that the author accomplish the stated task and leave deeper explorations for other books - I felt that what was covered was perfect for the length of the book and gave me the information I was looking for based on the title. Interestingly, it's one of those books that I really did read from cover to cover. A rare event for me with computer books.
  
  This is an excellent book for those who are looking to expand their use of XML in development projects for the browser.

  Has everything!.......2006-07-21

  Sas Jacobs writes in the Introduction that she wanted this book to be a one-stop shop to learn how to build XML web applications. I think she reached her goal.
  
  Besides being a mouthful, Beginning XML with DOM and Ajax is crammed with just about every XML topic you can think of from both the client and server side. The topics on the client side cover all the usual suspects such as XSLT and DOM. There're also a few odd client side topics covered as well -- such as mixing CSS and XML and using XML with Flash. The server side section of the book is noticeably shorter than the client side. It's really just one chapter doing a quick overview of ASP and PHP related XML tools. At the very end, there are two case studies -- one for ASP and one for PHP -- in which a full XML-based web application is built. These two studies are really great and definitely build on the server side chapter.
  
  All of these topics are covered in a book just over 400 pages long. Now this might be the only time you hear me say this, but I think this book is a little short for all the topics it covers. Don't get me wrong, the coverage is excellent, the examples are numerous, and the case studies are detailed; however, reading this book was a bit like eating incredibly rich chocolate -- even small portions were more than enough to handle.

  Works for both beginning and experienced developers.......2006-07-21

  The book is an excellent introduction into XML, what in today's world of distributed, multi-platform applications development, is an unavoidable and critical technology. An essential amount of foundation is provided on the basics of XML and XHTML (DTDs schema, structuring rules, web vocabularies, etc.), it also delves into CSS, DOM scripting, remoting via XMLHTTP for AJAX interfaces, server-side XML in ASP.NET 2.0 and PHP, and using XML in Flash applications. Each chapter has a good amount of web-based resources to check out. Even experienced developers will find something useful in this book.
  
  Author Sas Jacobs features a great discussion about using some of the lesser-known niche features of CSS with XML, and provides healthy, practical examples you can replicate or download and instantly implement in your own web projects.
  
  My favorite chapter, and the one I've broke the spine on for my own copy, is Chapter 7 - "Advanced Client-Side XSLT Techniques". There you'll find the necessary information for building sophisticated (if not universally supported by all browsers) web UIs through integrated transformations. This includes demonstrating how to use extension functions/objects, generating JavaScript through XSLT, and dynamic client-side sorting. Most of these are MSIE-dependent, but the chapter also takes into consideration proper testing for graceful degradation in Firefox, Mozilla, Safari, etc. For similar reasons, I likewise got a lot out of the "DOM Scripting" discussion.
  
  In criticism, I would have liked the chapter on XSLT - in my opinion the section most people reading this book will need the most - to be longer. It's rather rudimentary even and doesn't cover some of the more time-saving features of XSLT. Also, I found the "Web Vocabularies" to be extraneous; interesting but not warranting an entire chapter in today's WWW. The book would also benefit from an appendix of the resources mentioned for various tools, URLs and technologies available to speed XML-related development.
  
  But beyond these minor concerns, which I'm sure will be modified in forthcoming revised versions, the book remains a must-have resource for introductory programming, and a useful tool for more intermediate developers.

  Average customer rating: Hard to follow Great intro for novice programmer Serves it's purpose.....I like it Excruciatingly verbose Very thorough page turner

  Beginning Web Programming with HTML, XHTML, and CSS (Wrox Beginning Guides) Jon Duckett Manufacturer: Wrox ProductGroup: Book Binding: Paperback General | Introductory & Beginning | Programming | Computers & Internet | Subjects | Books HTML - General | Web Programming | Programming | Computers & Internet | Subjects | Books General | Programming | Computers & Internet | Subjects | Books XHTML | Extensible Languages | Programming | Computers & Internet | Subjects | Books General | Languages & Tools | Programming | Computers & Internet | Subjects | Books General | Computers & Internet | Subjects | Books General | Software | Computers & Internet | Subjects | Books Look Inside Computer Books | Trip | Specialty Stores | Books All Amazon Upgrade | Amazon Upgrade | Stores | Books Computers & Internet | Amazon Upgrade | Stores | Books General | Software Books | Custom Stores | Stores | Software Similar Items: Beginning CSS: Cascading Style Sheets for Web Design (Wrox Beginning Guides) Beginning JavaScript Creating Cool Web Sites with HTML, XHTML, and CSS Professional JavaScript for Web Developers (Wrox Professional Guides) Professional CSS: Cascading Style Sheets for Web Design ASIN: 0764570781

  Book Description

  What is this book about?

  Beginning Web Programming with HTML, XHTML, and CSS teaches you how to write Web pages using HTML, XHTML, and CSS. It follows standards-based principles, but also teaches readers ways around problems they are likely to face using (X)HTML.

  While XHTML is the "current" standard, the book still covers HTML because many people do not yet understand that XHTML is the official successor to HTML, and many readers will still stick with HTML for backward compatibility and simpler/informal Web pages that don't require XHTML compliance.

  The book teaches basic principles of usability and accessibility along the way, to get users into the mode of developing Web pages that will be available to as many viewers as possible from the start. The book also covers the most commonly used programming/scripting language — JavaScript — and provides readers with a roadmap of other Web technologies to learn after mastering this book to add more functionality to their sites.

  Download Description

  What is this book about?

  Beginning Web Programming with HTML, XHTML, and CSS teaches you how to write Web pages using HTML, XHTML, and CSS. It follows standards-based principles, but also teaches readers ways around problems they are likely to face using (X)HTML.

  While XHTML is the "current" standard, the book still covers HTML because many people do not yet understand that XHTML is the official successor to HTML, and many readers will still stick with HTML for backward compatibility and simpler/informal Web pages that don't require XHTML compliance.

  The book teaches basic principles of usability and accessibility along the way, to get users into the mode of developing Web pages that will be available to as many viewers as possible from the start. The book also covers the most commonly used programming/scripting language — JavaScript — and provides readers with a roadmap of other Web technologies to learn after mastering this book to add more functionality to their sites.

  Customer Reviews:

  Hard to follow.......2007-06-04

  I have gone from being frustrated with this title to disliking it intensely. I would suggest alternate materials such as the O'Reilly publication, "HTML & XHTML: The Definitive Guide."
  
  First, "BWP w/HTML, XHTML, and CSS" is dated. Its publication date is 2004. This text often complains that features "are not supported by browsers" that have since been updated. There are more current materials published within the last year. (And on the subject of browsers, I have not found a single mention of Mozilla, Safari, or Opera in this book).
  
  Second, the author's presentation is often difficult to follow. Concedely it is a difficult subject to organize when there are "live" tags, "deprecated" tags, the ongoing effort to separate stylistic elements into CSS, and different browswers' idiosyncracies with which to deal. Duckett, however, is next to hopeless in separating these subjects.
  
  Most critical is the fact that this book is a very unhappy blend between an introductory tutorial and a reference "bible." Duckett will introduce a basic concept -- say, "tables" and will then load up on all of the attributes that the element might take. Learning the key ideas gets lost in the process. The book often leads off into asides and references to more advanced topics that will easily lose the initiate. It is no coincidence that several of the reviews here use the word "intermediate" in connection with this text.
  
  The author does not seem to understand the principle that individuals learn by working from the "known" step-by-step to the "unknown." Instead, he seems to rely upon the idea that "if I throw everything at them in a random fashion, they'll figure out a good amount of it."
  
  As an example of its "random walk" approach, Chapter 4 first provides a sound introduction into the use of colors and making references to images. The closing section of the chapter, however, branches off into a discussion of the