XML Introduction Course

Is it right for me?

This course provides a technical introduction to XML and delegates will quickly get up-to-speed with the concept of working with structures documents and the importance of reusability of data. Delegates will learn how to create well-formed and valid XML documents, using both a text editor and an XML editing tool. They will also build a simple DTD and use XSLT to convert XML data to HTML.

The benefits of working with structured documentation and the origins of XML will also be discussed.

What will I get out of it?

By the end of the course delegates will be able to:

• Create and edit XML documents
• Describe the difference between well formed and valid XML
• Create and edit simple DTDs
• Combine XML documents by using external entities
• Have a brief introduction to XSLT

What does it cover?

A brief overview of XML

• What does XML stand for?
• The difference between SGML, HTML and XML
• The advantages of using XML
• Understanding the jargon: elements; attributes; entities; processing instructions; DTD’s; parsers and browsers
• The benefits of working with structured information

Getting started

• Planning a structured document
• Editing an XML document using a variety of tools
• Using a text editor to create a simple “well formed” XML document
• Include the XML declaration
• Setting a “Root” tag

XML elements

• Naming conventions of XML Element tags
• The importance of Start and End tags
• Nesting tags
• Empty elements
• Relationships between elements

XML attributes

• What are they and why do I need them?
• Naming conventions
• Assigning attributes to elements
• Different types of attributes

Comments and special characters

• Including comments within your XML document
• Inserting special characters “- ‘ < > &

Producing a valid XML document

• Guidelines for creating “valid” documents
• Syntax
• XML Vocabulary
• Setting a DOCTYPE
• Internal entities

DTD’s

• Why use a DTD?
• Techniques for creating a DTD
• Content models, connectors and symbols
• Creating a simple internal DTD
• Linking an external DTD to your XML document
• Editing and updating your DTD to include attributes

Validation

• Running a validation tool through your XML document to ensure it conforms to your DTD

CDATA

• What is CDATA?
• Include CDATA sections in your XML document

Cross-referencing

• Using special attributes to link (cross-refer) data

Combining XML documents

• Creating external general entities
• Including general entities within an XML document

Working with graphics

• Including graphics within your XML document
• Using entities and notations to allow different graphic formats to be included in your XML document

Introducing XSLT

• A brief overview of XSLT
• Creating a simple style sheet and applying to your XML document
• Transforming XML to HTML to display on your web browser