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Applied XML Solutions

ISBN: 0-672-32054-1

Pages: 366 + CD-Rom

Publisher: Sams Press

Author:Benoit Marchal

Intended Audience: There are two distinct audiences for this title.  The primary audience for Applied XML Solutions is programmers and Web developers.  They will benefit from practical solutions and the many code samples found throughout the book.  A secondary audience is analysts and consultants.  Although the code samples might not be directly beneficial, the project-oriented format of the book will provide this audience with new approaches and new solutions to problems.

Summary:

Applied XML Solutions is a "solutions book."  This means that the book is designed to teach you how to solve common problems encountered when  developing typical XML applications.  The idea here is to organize information around a specific solution.  To quote the author, "the main problem for developers is not a lack of information but too much of it!"  This book does not attempt to teach the basics of XML and XML syntax such as DTDs, elements, attributes, etc.  Nor does it focus on vocabularies or the wealth of related technologies such as XSLT, DOM, XHTML, etc.  Rather the book is organized in "projects" and just the information that is required for that project is presented.

Eight projects were selected for this book.  The projects were selected because the author believed these projects are typical of real-life XML applications.  Each project roughly equates to a chapter of the book.  Each chapter demonstrates how to build the project in XML. The book begins with simple projects.  Throughout the book each project is more and more complex — with the most difficult project falling to the last chapter of the book. 

The projects included in this book are:

  • Linking object data structures with XML
  • Preparing advanced configuration files
  • Using XML-based electronic forms
  • Supporting multi format publishing
  • Integrating XML with legacy formats
  • XML-base B2B eCommerce
  • Using XML in Web development
  • Integrating XML with an ERP system

The standards introduced in this book include XML, SAX2, DOM, CSS, XSLT, and SOAP.  The technologies introduced in the book include parsing, pattern matching, JavaScript, formatting, automatic posting, servlets, and more.  The code that supports each "project" in the book is written in Java.  According to the author, "most of the solutions will port easily to C++, Delhi, Perl, Python, and other languages."  To get real value from this book however, the author points out that "you must be able to read and understand Java code."

This book may be read in any order.  It can be read front to back, and in fact, I think a brief reading in this fashion will help you find the reference project that you need when you need it.  Perhaps the most common use of the book will be to read a project/chapter as you tackle a similar project in your day-to-day work environment.

Another useful feature of the book is the CD-ROM.  On the CD-ROM you will find all the code listings for the project solutions.  The CD-ROM provides a code base for your own development projects.

If you know the basics of XML, have a basic understanding of Java, and are ready to apply those basics in a real-life situation, this is a good book for you.  The project approach of the book is quite unique and most useful.  The author tackles tricky, unexpected situations that face an XML developer.  This book provides those new to XML development with the tips and tricks of an expert!

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