Introduction to XML Fundamentals (TT4300)

The Extensible Markup Language (XML) is a standard that is enabling a revolution in web applications and business to business interactions. XML is the basis for Wireless Markup Language (WML), Voice Markup Language (VoiceML), Simple Object Access Protocol (SOAP), REST data interchange, and numerous industry initiatives such as ACORD (insurance), PXML (proposal/RFP) and OTA (travel).

Introduction to XML Fundamentals is a three-day comprehensive course that provides you with the skills you need to use XML in today’s systems and architectures. Working in a hands-on lab environment, you’ll explore key XML topics, from tags to architectures, working through the fundamentals of XML and then covering XML Schema in detail. You’ll also explore XPath and XSLT standards, as well as XML processing and XML security issues. You’ll leave this course with the modern skills you need to transform XML documents into other useful documents, such as HTML documents or other XML documents.

This course provides a deep dive into the practical use of W3C standards (including XSL and XML Schema), and how to implementing these tools and technologies. This course is programming language independent, making it useful for Java, .NET, C++, and any other programming orientation. After this course you’ll be able to quickly apply XML to projects at both an architectural as well as a line-by-line coding level. In addition to valuable knowledge and working examples, you’ll also receive a copy of the “Xtensil” product. This unique software was developed to assist in implementing, testing, and fielding XML applications. Xtensil is used as both a teaching aid and a straightforward, basic, fully functional XML toolkit that you’ll be able to use on both Windows and Linux platforms.

Course Agenda

Please note that this list of topics is based on our standard course offering, evolved from typical industry uses and trends. We will work with you to tune this course and level of coverage to target the skills you need most.

Session: XML Content

1. Lesson: Introduction to XML
   • XML Separates Structure, Content and Format
   • Content: XML Document Syntax Rules
   • Structure: DTD or XML Schema
   • Formatting: XSLT Transformation to HTML
2. Lesson: XML Mechanics
   • XML Document Structure
   • Rules for Well-Formed XML
   • Content as MarkUp
   • Namespaces Associate Alias with a URI
   • Exercise: Well-Formed XML Documents

Session: XML Structure

1. Lesson: Namespaces
   • XML Namespaces
   • Name Collisions
   • Namespace Scope
   • Namespaces Best Practices
   • Exercise: Working with Namespaces
2. Lesson: Structure Using Schemas
   • Document Type Definition (DTD)
   • W3C XML Schemas
   • Elements, Attributes, and Types
   • Restricting Simple Types: Facets
   • Complex Types
   • Attribute Definitions
   • Derivation by Extension
   • Using XML Schema with Namespaces
   • Exercise: Create a Simple Schema
   • Exercise: Schema Development and Use
   • Exercise: Extending the Schema
   • Exercise: Using Namespaces and Schemas
   • Exercise: Managing Large Schema (Optional)

Session: XML Formatting

1. Lesson: CSS and Rendering XML
   • Cascading Style Sheets and XML
   • XML/CSS Processing Flow
   • Exercise: CSS and Rendering XML
2. Lesson: XSL Transformations
   • XPath Describes Locations Within XML
   • XSLT is Rule-Based Transformation Language
   • XSL is Oriented Towards Formatting
   • Exercise: XSLT and Transforming XML
3. Lesson: XSLT and XPath
   • XPath Data Model
   • Location Paths
   • Additional Filtering
   • XPath Operators and Functions
   • XSLT Stylesheet Structure
   • Templates Are The Rules
   • Conflict Resolution for Templates
   • Calling Templates
   • Looping, Sorting and Conditional Processing Constructs
   • Exercise: Working with XPath
   • Exercise: XSLT Development and Use
4. Lesson: Overview of XPath/XSLT 2.0/3.0 (Optional)
   • XPath 2.0 Improvements
   • XPath 2.0 and XQuery 1.0
   • XSLT 2.0 Improvements
   • XPath 3.0/3.1 Features
   • XSLT 3.0 Features
   • Exercise: Transforming XML – XSLT 2.0 (Optional)
5. Lesson: XSL FO (Formatting Objects)
   • XSL Family Working Together
   • Apache’s FOP: Rendering XML
   • Page Types Can Be Conditional
   • Content Flows Into Page Regions
   • Exercise: Working with XSL-FO

Session: Applying XML

1. Lesson: XML Interoperability
   • XML From a Data Perspective
   • XML/Database Interfacing
   • Challenges to Mapping XML
2. Lesson: XML Performance Improvements
   • Best Practices
   • Organization of Best Practices
   • Exercise: Best Practices Review
3. Lesson: XML Processing Security
   • XML Parser Coercion
   • XML Attacks: Structure
   • XML Attacks: Injection
   • Safe XML Processing
   • Exercise: Safe XML Processing
   • Exercise: Dynamic Loading Using XSLT
4. Lesson: XML Applications
   • W3C Activities
   • Benefits of XML
   • Drawbacks of XML
   • Crossing Boundaries
   • Challenges to Integration