SGML and XML Tools

ISBN: 0-7923-8169-6

Author: Peter Flynn

Peter Flynn has many years experience in implementing and using SGML in business and research. He is also the author of the World Wide Web Handbook.

Pages: 429 plus a CD-ROM

Intended Audience:

SGML and XML Tools was clearly designed for XML and SGML implementors. It is a technical book which attempts to meet several goals

• An introduction to SGML and XML
• Understanding how DTDs work and how to design them
• Editing, how to get text into SGML and how to select the best tool
• Parsing and validating, all the details and tools
• Conversion and manipulation, the tools and techniques
• Finding, viewing and printing SGML
• Rolling your own -- writing your own programs to interact with SGML

This book follows a traditional model in categorizing tools. The book appears to be written for publishers who are investigating the reasons for integrating XML into their publishing strategy. The book makes little attempt to address the emerging Web model and does not provide strategies or tools information for those building a middle-tier Web architecture.

Summary

It is important to note that the author uses SGML and XML interchangably. Flynn states "with a few exceptions, most of the points I make about SGML apply equally to XML. They share a common syntax and XML is basically a subset of SGML." The author makes few other distinctions between the two. He states that "XML was under development" at the time he was writing the book and states that he has made no effort to keep the book content up to date with the ever changing nature of XML. XML is addressed as a subsection in a chapter titled "What type of document?" and is found at the same level as discussion of "Understanding the Document Type Definition," and "SGML Update". XML does not warrant a separate chapter. All XML tools descriptions are mixed in with descriptions of SGML tools. XML implementors must read tool descriptions carefully to understand which tools are SGML and which will work in the XML environment.

That said, this text is very complete and is filled with a level of technical detail that answers most questions any SGML/XML publisher would ask. Unlike the XML Handbook from the Goldfarb Series, this book attempts to include, categorize, and describe all tools on the market today. Many good SGML tools are covered. And many good XML tools are discussed as well. The discussion for each tool includes a listing of platforms, the ftp or Web site where tool descriptions by the vendor and demo software may be found. Tool discussions include candid evaluation by the author as well as screenshots and input/output examples. Clearly each tool was studied by the author and the technical insights into each product provide the reader with a wealth of information about each tool that will prove invaluable in the tool selection process.

This book comes with a CD-ROM. This CD uses demonstration software from Synex, makers of ViewPort as a browser. The CD contains sample software, DTDs, stylesheets and SGML documentation. The CD is organized in folders for various platforms as well as a folder for Viewport which will enable you to browse the SGML resources.

If you are working in an SGML/XML publishing environment this book is a good edition to your library. Remember, however, that very little distinction is made between SGML in this text. If you are in the process of selecting tools, Flynn has done much of the leg work for you. Simply note that while Flynn may make little distinction between SGML and XML, there may be distinctions for you, specifically when selecting tools.