Core XML

50062: Core XML (2 days)

About this Course

This two-day instructor-led course provides students with the knowledge and skills to learn the fundamentals of the Extensible Markup Language (XML) as well as those of the most popular supporting technologies. See how to create well-formed XML data and effective namespaces. Understand how to perform validation using Document Type Definitions (DTDs) and XML Schemas (XSDs). See how to manipulate XML data using the Document Object Model (DOM) and Simple API for XML (SAX).

Audience Profile

This course is intended for:

• Application developers who need to implement XML-based solutions.
• System architects who want to understand how XML can be integrated into the system design of distributed applications.
• IT managers who are responsible for overseeing development shops implementing XML solutions.

At Course Completion

After completing this course, students will be able to:

• Discover new ways to use XML in applications, with an understanding of its structure, uses, and idiosyncrasies.
• Create well-formed and optionally valid XML that complies with the XML standard and the requirements of applications.
• Use two technologies that define the structure of XML data, beyond the general syntax rules of XML.
• Understand that one of the largest benefits of XML is how it can be transformed into completely different XML, HTML, and even binary files.
• Explore how the Document Object Model provides a standard, portable way to access information contained in XML data.

Course Outline

Module 1: Introduction to the Extensible Markup Language

This module explains how to create XML data and understand the basic syntax of XML. Learn what constitutes acceptable XML content and understand the relationship between elements and attributes.

Lessons

• What Is XML?
• Work with XML Data
• Well-Formed XML
• XML Content Models
• Well Formed and Valid XML

Lab : Introducing the Extensible Markup Language

• Overview
• Create an XML Document
• Check the Document for Well-Formedness
• Make an XML Document Well-Formed
• Work with Illegal Characters

After completing this module, students will be able to:

• Create XML data and understand the basic syntax of XML.
• Understand what constitutes acceptable XML content and how to get around some of the limitations by using entity references.
• Understand the relationship between elements and attributes and when it is better to use one or the other to contain data.
• Understand the concepts of well-formed and valid XML data.

Module 2: Document Type Definitions (DTDs)

This module explains the basic structural elements of DTDs, how to use public and private DTDs, and XML content models.

Lessons

• The Value of Valid XML
• Associate a DTD with XML
• Define the XML Content Model
• Content Model Cardinality
• Define Attributes
• What’s the Problem with DTDs?

Lab : Document Type Definitions (DTDs)

• Overview
• Validate an XML Document
• Create a DTD Document

After completing this module, students will be able to:

• Understand the value of valid XML data.
• Use basic structural elements of DTDs.
• Use both internal and external structure definitions.
• Use public and private DTDs.
• Create DTDs that define elements and attributes.
• Understand XML content models and how to complement them in DTDs.
• Use option groups and other techniques to flexibly define data structure.
• Understand the problems and limitations of DTDs.

Module 3: Schemas and Namespaces

This module explains how to construct basic XML schemas, understand design decisions, and learn how namespaces allow the combination of XML from different sources.

Lessons

• Describing XML
• Built-in Data Types
• Content Models Defined
• Derive Types
• XML Namespaces
• Do I Really Need Valid XML?

Lab : Schemas and Namespaces

• What Is XSLT?
• Are You Sure This Is a Language?

After completing this module, students will be able to:

• Understand how XML schemas provide the tools that make XML the best application of the Internet.
• Construct basic XML schemas and a few of the many possible permutations.
• Understand the design decisions that go into building effective schemas.
• Understand how namespaces allow the combination of XML from different sources.

Module 4: Introduction to XSLT

This module explains common types of XSLT transformations, how a transformation is processed, and how to search and filter XML data.

Lessons

• What Is XSLT?
• Are You Sure XSLT Is a Language?
• Transformation Types
• Process XSLT

After completing this module, students will be able to:

• Understand why XSLT was devised and briefly review its history.
• Understand the common types of XSLT transformations.
• Understand how a transformation is processed, given an XML file and an XSLT file.
• Search and filter XML data using XPath and XSLT.

Module 5: XML Document Object Model

This module explains the W3C Document Object Model and how it supports XML, why the DOM looks at XML data, and how a DOM specification defines interfaces.

Lessons

• Object-Oriented View of XML
• DOM Interfaces and Objects
• A Parsing Alternative: Simple API for XML (SAX)

After completing this module, students will be able to:

• Understand the W3C Document Object Model and how it supports applications that use XML.
• Understand the way the DOM looks at XML data, as a collection of nodes, and how it parses raw data into an in-memory representation.
• Understand how the DOM specification defines interfaces, not implementations.
• Understand that there is an alternative XML parsing technology, the Simple API for XML (SAX), and how it differs from DOM.

Before attending this course, students must have:

• Familiarity with PCs and desktop workstations.
• Familiarity with HTML tags such as <body&rt;, <table&rt;, <h1&rt; and <br&rt;.
• Procedural programming experience (e.g., Visual Basic, Visual C++, VBA).
• General familiarity with how applications process data and information.