Beginning XSLT and XPATH: Transforming XML Documents and Data

Provides the basic education in the XSLT processing model that developers have requested

The growth of XML content management applications is boosting the demand for XSLT and XPath skills. This beginning Wrox book provides a firm foundation in the XSLT processing model, giving developers an important skillset.

If, like many developers, you''ve had trouble grasping the XSLT processing model, you''ll appreciate how this book focuses specifically on what you need to know. XSLT examples address the often-requested processing steps for typical XML document and data vocabularies. You will see exactly how XSLT relies on XPath, and how the processing model differs from most programming languages. A case study demonstrates how to build a static Web site using XSLT 2.0 elements and XPath 2.0 functions.

• Explains XSLT and XPath, covering both version 1.0 and 2.0
• Covers using templates, control and branching, variable and parameters, sorting and grouping, and using modular stylesheets
• Also examines strings, dates, and numbers; working with multiple documents and text; generating identifiers; and testing and documentation
• All topics contain incremental code examples
• Addresses the much-requested processing steps for typical XML document and data vocabularies, including how the processing model differs from most programming languages

Beginning XSLT and XPath: Transforming XML Documents and Data is the essential guide you need to thoroughly understand the important XSLT processing model.

Note: CD-ROM/DVD and other supplementary materials are not included as part of eBook file.

Extensible Stylesheet Language Transformations (XSLT) is a language for transforming XML documents and data from one format to another. Answering the demand for an introductory book on XSLT processing, Ian Williams presents a clear, concise resource on XSLT concepts and methods and explains how and why XSLT relies on the XML Path language (XPath).

As you gain a solid foundation in XSLT processing, you''ll learn the basic node tree structure that is used in the data model and discover how XSLT differs from the approach used in other programming languages. Example-laden chapters include both versions 1.0 and 2.0 features and demonstrate how to transform one XML data format to another. The book covers the key structural elements of an XSLT file and shows you how to use simple XPath expressions to match and select source file content. Along the way, you''ll uncover a rich set of XPath functions that will benefit you again and again as you develop your XSLT skills.

What you will learn from this book

• How to define templates, the basic building blocks of XSLT

• The way to construct XPath expressions and use a range of powerful XPath and XSLT functions

• The role of variables and parameters in XSLT

• Making use of control structures and iteration

• How to generate and format numbers, dates, and times

• Methods for working with multiple source and stylesheet documents

• Ways to debug XSLT, validate types in XSLT, and document your stylesheets

• Tips for indexing and linking items using identifiers and keys

• Techniques for controlling whitespace and processing plain text

Who this book is for
This book is for web developers, authors, and designers who understand XML basics, and are interested in gaining a solid understanding of XSLT processing.

Wrox Beginning guides are crafted to make learning programming languages and technologies easier than you think, providing a structured, tutorial format that will guide you through all the techniques involved.

Ian Williams is an information designer specializing in XML technologies, and a software technical writer. He worked in the U.K. publishing industry before getting involved in information technology at OWL International, developers of the one of the first commercial hypertext products. Ian was a product manager there, and later a consultant working with large corporate customers.
Since 1998 Ian has worked on technical writing and information-design projects, most recently for Nokia, Reuters, and Volantis. He is co-author with Pierre Greborio of Professional InfoPath 2003, also from Wrox Press.