XSLT For Dummies

by Wagner, Richard

• ISBN13: 9780764536519
• ISBN10: 0764536516
• Edition: 1st
• Format: Paperback
• Copyright: 2002-03-29
• Publisher: For Dummies

Summary

Restructuring information in an XML document so that it works in other formats used to be a time-consuming ordeal involving lots of blood, sweat, and tears. Now XSLT (Extensible Stylesheet Language Transformations) makes the process nearly instantaneous. Just provide an example of the kind of information you'd like to see, and XSLT does the rest. With XSLT you can effortlessly transform XML documents into virtually any kind of output, including other XML documents and HTML pages. But mastering XSLT can be tricky, especially if you've never worked with XML or HTML; and most books on the subject are written for people who have. Here comes XSLT For Dummies to the rescue!XSLT For Dummies is your ticket to quickly mastering XSLT_no matter what your prior programming experience. Writing in easygoing, plain English, XML pro Richard Wagner provides expert advice, step-by-step guidance, and tons of crystal-clear examples to help you harness the power of XSLT to transform documen ts. In no time you'll:Understand how XSLT works with XSL and XPathExperiment with templates, stylesheets, and expressionsPerform HTML transformationsMaster XPath data types and functionsCombine XSLT stylesheetsExplore cool XSLT programming tricksXSLT For Dummies works from the ground up, starting with a practical introduction of the "X-Team"_XML, XSL, XSLT, and X-Path_and instructions on how to write a XSLT stylesheet. From there it quickly moves onward and upward through the whole range of important XSLT topics, including:Transforming with stylesheetsUnderstanding and using template rulesUsing XPath to locate nodes in XML documentsCombining XSLT stylesheets and adding processing instructionsDebugging XSLT transformationsTen XSLT processors available onlineIt doesn't matter whether you're a babe in the woods who can't tell a "tag" from an element, or you're an old pro at creating XML documents, XSLT For Dummies offers you a fun, easy way to explore and take full advantage of Extensible Stylesheet Language Transformations.

Author Biography

<b>Richard Wagner</b>, the former chief architect of NetObjects ScriptBuilder and the primary author of the ECMAScript Components standard, is currently in charge of development tools at Nombas, Inc.

Table of Contents

Introduction	1	(4)
Part I: Getting Started with XSLT	5	(24)
Introducing the X-Team	7	(12)
Writing Your First XSLT Stylesheet	19	(10)
Part II: Becoming an XSLT Transformer	29	(90)
Transforming with Style (Stylesheets, That Is)	31	(14)
Templates Rule!	45	(20)
XPath Espresso	65	(26)
We Want Results!	91	(28)
Part III: Prime Time XSLT	119	(92)
Adding Programming Logic Isn't Just for Propheads	121	(16)
Variables in XSLT: A Breed Apart	137	(14)
Tweaking the Results to Get What You Want	151	(20)
To HTML and Beyond!	171	(18)
XPath Data Types and Functions	189	(22)
Part IV: eXtreme XSLT	211	(82)
Combining XSLT Stylesheets	213	(10)
``Gimme Some Space'' and Other Output Issues	223	(14)
Keys and Cross-Referencing	237	(14)
Namespaces Revisited	251	(16)
Extending XSLT	267	(16)
Debugging XSLT Transformations	283	(10)
Part V: The Part of Tens	293	(18)
Ten Most Confusing Things About XSLT	295	(8)
Ten All-Pro XSLT Resources on the Web	303	(4)
Ten XSLT Processors Available Online	307	(4)
Glossary	311	(6)
Index	317