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Press Release: October 2, 2003

"Learning XML, Second Edition": Updated Edition Offers Solid Grounding in XML Technologies

Sebastopol, CA--XML (Extensible Markup Language) is used as the base format for everything from configuration files to document management to messages sent between computers. While XML has evolved into a complex collection of specifications, a smaller core of XML remains the foundation. The new edition of Learning XML (O'Reilly, US $39.95) by Erik T. Ray explains this foundation, providing readers with a concise but grounded understanding of XML and its capabilities.

Long surrounded by hype, XML is now being used by developers on a daily, rather than experimental, basis. "Learning XML, Second Edition" explains how to work with XML in a wide variety of contexts, offering a succinct and thorough guide to anyone who needs to work with XML and XML vocabularies. Readers interested in creating documents, defining schemas, transforming between formats, presenting information, or writing programs that deal directly with documents will find a clear, concise explanation with references to real-life projects and cogent examples.

"Learning XML, Second Edition" starts with coverage of XML's foundation and then explores technologies that address more specific needs. For writers producing XML documents, the book demystifies the process of creating documents with appropriate structure and format. It also discusses stylesheets for viewing documents in the next generation of browsers and other devices. Designers will learn what parts of XML are most helpful to their team and will get started creating schemas. For programmers, the book explains how to define and validate document structures and begin programming XML-oriented applications.

Topics covered in the book include:

  • The basic concepts and core syntax of XML

  • Transforming XML using XPath and XSLT

  • Using stylesheets, including CSS and XSL-FO, for formatting documents

  • Document modeling with DTDs, W3C XML Schema, RELAX NG, and Schematron

  • An introduction to internationalization using Unicode

  • An introduction to programming with XML, using SAX, DOM, and pull

Anyone who needs to wade through the acronym soup of XML and start to use this powerful tool will find a solid base of knowledge on which to build in "Learning XML, Second Edition."

Additional Resources:

Learning XML, Second Edition
Erik T. Ray
ISBN 0-596-00420-6, 400 pages, $24.95 US, $38.95 CA, 28.50 UK
[email protected]
1-800-998-9938; 1-707-827-7000

About O’Reilly

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