77-947 XML XSL Transformations-Level 2

Courses:

77-947 XML XSL Transformations-Level 2

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XML: XSL Transformations-Level 2

Course Specifications

Course number: 077947

Software Version Number: 1.0

Course length: 1 day

Course Description

Overview: This course is a follow-up to XML XSL Transformations, Level 1. The XSLT specification is

maintained by the W3C (World Wide Web Consortium) and is a core part of the growing family of XML

technologies. A related XML technology is the XPath language, which is required for using XSLT

stylesheets. Students in this course continue to learn the details of both XSLT and XPath, including the

various XSLT elements not covered in Level 1, the XSLT functions, and the unabbreviated XPath

syntax. They will also use XSLT in a server-side environment utilizing ASP (Active Server Pages) and

ADO (ActiveX Data Objects) technologies. Finally, students will use XSLT with XML data islands and

SVG (Scalable Vector Graphics).

Prerequisites: We designed XML: XSL Transformations, Level 2 for the student who is familiar with

the general concepts involved in XML. It presupposes that the student has successfully taken XML: XSL

Transformations, Level 1. Furthermore, prior to taking this course students should have taken the

following Element K courses (or have equivalent knowledge):

•

HTML 4.01: Web Authoring, Level 1 (Second Edition)

•

HTML 4.01: Web Authoring, Level 2 (Second Edition)

•

Cascading Style Sheets: Web Development (Second Edition)

•

XML: An Introduction (Second Edition)

Some knowledge of basic programming concepts and/or experience with Web scripting (VBScript or

JavaScript) would also be helpful. A knowledge of the XML Document Object Model, though not strictly

necessary, would be helpful and is important for anyone planning to work with XSLT.

Delivery Method: Instructor-led, group-paced, classroom-delivery learning model with structured handson

activities.

Benefits: Students will learn advanced XSLT and XPath elements, functions, and syntax not presented

in the Level 1 course. They will also use XSLT in simple server-side examples, and use XSLT with XML

data islands and SVG graphics.

Target student: This course is for anyone already introduced to the basics of XML and its related

technologies, and who is interested in XML programming. Students should have a strong background

with HTML, and preferably have some knowledge of general programming concepts. This course

assumes successful completion of XML: XSL Transformations, Level 1.

What’s Next: This course is a part of a series of courses that provide the foundation of XML

technologies. After having learned about DTDs and Schemas, XSL/XSLT/XPath, and XML DOM,

students will be well-poised to start integrating XML support into their Web applications using

ASP/ADO, Java/JSP, ColdFusion, various database management systems, and so on.

Hardware/Software Requirements: You will need:

•

A Pentium-based PC, 200 MHz or higher.

•

32 MB RAM minimum (64 MB RAM recommended).

•

Windows 95/98/NT/2000.

•

Microsoft Access (Access 2000 recommended)

•

A text editor; for example, Notepad or Allaire's HomeSite.

•

MS Internet Explorer 5.0 or higher.

•

MSXML 3.0 Parser or higher.

•

ASP 2.0 or higher

•

ADO 2.5 or higher

•

Personal Web Server or Internet Information Server

•

Adobe SVG Viewer (beta 2.0 or higher).

Performance-Based Objectives

Lesson objectives help students become comfortable with the course, and also provide a means to

evaluate learning. Upon successful completion of this course, students will be able to:

•

Include and import external stylesheets and set and retrieve information from variables and

parameters.

•

Copy XML blocks from the source document, create a variety of numbered lists, and set output

options.

•

Use XSLT functions to retrieve XML data from multiple documents, work with keys and

generated IDs, and determine XSLT processor features.

•

Write XPath expressions that use the unabbreviated Location Path syntax.

•

Use ASP, DOM, and ADO to work with XSLT on the server-side.

•

Transform an XML data island on the client and transform an XML document into an SVG

graphic.

Course Content

Lesson 1: Advanced XSLT Elements, Part 1

Topic 1A: The Structure of XSLT Stylesheets Reconsidered

Topic 1B: Importing and Including Stylesheets

Topic 1C: Variables and Parameters

Lesson 2: Advanced XSLT Elements, Part 2

Topic 2A: Output Options

Topic 2B: Copying XML Directly to the Output Tree

Topic 2C: Using Other Advanced XSLT Elements

Lesson 3: The Built-in XSLT Functions

Topic 3A: General Purpose Functions

Topic 3B: The document() Function

Lesson 4: XPath Axes and Location Paths

Topic 4A: The Current Context Reconsidered

Topic 4B: XPath Axes and Unabbreviated XPath Syntax

Lesson 5: Server-Side XSLT Programming with ASP, XMLDOM, and ADO

Topic 5A: Using XSLT with ASP and the XML DOM

Topic 5B: Transforming XML Obtained from a Database

Lesson 6: Data Islands and SVG Output

Topic 6A: Using XML Data Islands with XSLT

Topic 6B: Converting XML Documents into SVG Graphics

Appendix A: XSLT Syntax

XSLT Elements

XSLT Functions

Appendix B: XPath

XPath Syntax

XPath Axes

XPath Functions

Appendix C: Setting up a System DSN

Step-by-Step Instructions

Appendix D: XML to WML

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