XML for Web Developers

Course Objectives
Whilst covering the basics of XML and how it is used, this Course also aims to give an insight into XML syntax, namespaces, grammars and document presentation. Issues such as XML syntax, namespaces, document type definitions, XML schemas, CSS style sheets and XSL transformations are discussed. On completion of this Course the student will be able to:

• Develop XML documents using XML valid syntax
• Define XML namespaces
• Develop XML grammars, DTDs, and validate against an XML instance
• Develop XML grammars, XML schemas, and validate against an XML instance
• Develop document presentation using CSS style sheets
• Develop document presentation using XSL transformations

Course Details
XML INTRODUCTION
XML Applications and Data
XML Applications and Data
Standardised Generalised Mark-Up Languages
Meta Mark-Up Languages
Extensible Mark-Up Language - XML
Documents
Applications
Grammars
Parsers
Features
XML DOCUMENTS
XML Document Structure
Tags & Elements
Attributes
Well Formed Documents
Valid XML Documents
Viewing an XML Document
Using CSS Style Sheets
Using XSL Transformations
XML SYNTAX
XML Documents
XML Declaration
Elements
Element Hierarchy
Empty Elements
XML Names
Entity References
CDATA Sections
NAMESPACES
Namespace Definition
Uniform Resource Identifier
Namespace Syntax
Binding Prefixes to Namespace URIs
Default Namespaces
Non-Default Namespaces
XML GRAMMARS
XML Validation
XML Parsers & Validators
Document Type Definitions
XML Schemas
DOCUMENT TYPE DEFINITION (DTD)
DTD
Definition
Declaration
Formats
DTD Declaration
Internal Declarations
External Private Declarations
External Public Declarations
DTD Content
!ELEMENT Declaration
Content Model
#PCDATA
Child Elements
Empty
Any
Mixed Content
!ATTLIST Declaration
Attribute Type
CDATA
NMTOKEN & NMTOKENS
ENUMERATION
ENTITY & ENTITIES
ID
IDREF & IDREFS
NOTATION
Processing Instructions
XML SCHEMAS
Schema Status
Schema Elements & Attributes
Simple Types
Complex Types
Elements
Attributes
ComplexType
Compositors
Sequence
Choice
All
Attributes
Empty Elements
Attaching an XML schema to an Instance Document
XML Schema
Schema Structures
Using References
Using Groups
User-defined Simple Types
User-defined Complex Types
Content Type Libraries
XML ON THE WEB
Why Use XHTML
Converting HTML to XHTML
XML Namespaces
XML Presentation
XML DOCUMENT PRESENTATION
CSS Style Sheets or XSL
Stylesheets
CSS Stylesheets
XSL Transformations
CSS STYLE SHEETS
Using CSS Style Sheets with XHTML
Style Sheet Types
Inline Stylesheets
Document Level Stylesheets
External Stylesheets
Using CSS Stylesheets with XML
XSL TRANSFORMATIONS
XSL
Stylesheet
Transformations
Processors
XSL
Template
Value-Of
Apply-Templates
Pattern Mathcing
By Position
By Filters
Advanced Pattern Techniques
XSLT Language Constructs
Choose Constructs
If Constructs
For-Each Consturcts
THE FUTURE OF XML
XML Futures
XML Web Sites
Course Environment Development will be performed using an XML Source Editor:

• a text editor such as Notepad or TextPad
• XML Spy

Together with an XML testing environment:

• Internet Explorer 5.5 or greater
• Netscape 6.0 or greater

Course Format: Practical sessions make up a large part of the course, allowing delegates to demonstrate and reinforce the lectures given. During these sessions the delegate will gain experience of coding all types of XML documents and XML syntax as well as validating against existing XML processors and validators. Examples are used extensively, ranging from simple code snippets to full applications with complete 'real world' functionality. These are supplied at the start of the course and it is encouraged that the delegates execute and 'experiment' with these under the instructor's guidance as they are introduced. These examples are available to take away, along with the delegate's own work. The comprehensive Student Guide supplied is fully indexed serving as a useful reference tool long after the course has finished. Delegates will also be able to access a free help-line with technical questions relating to topics covered on the course.