Overview
John E. Simpson shares the simple secrets behind XML - eXtensible Markup Language - the powerful tool that adds meaning and functionality to your website without complicated code, compilers, or development kits. Even if you've never used HTML before, Just XML will walk you through the basics of creating and maintaining your own customizable XML applications.Synopsis
Discover how much you can do with just XML - fast!
Building a sophisticated web site doesn't require a Ph.D. in computer science, just the right tools for the job - and no tool offers you more power than XML. Best of all, it's a lot easier to get results with XML than you think! In Just XML, Second Edition, John E. Simpson shares the simple secrets behind XML, showing how to add meaning and functionality to your web site - without complicated code, compilers, or development kits. Simpson walks you step-by-step through all the basics of creating and maintaining your own customizable XML applications, including:
- XML basics: all you need to get started-fast!
- Smarter XML document hyperlinking with XLink and XPointer
- CSS and XSLT: displaying and restructuring XML documents for maximum impact
- Rolling your own: building custom XML solutions for virtually any problem
- Updated tips on compatibility with the latest browser versions
- New appendix, "The FlixML Files," including a complete sample DTD, XML documents, and CSS and XSLT stylesheets
- Today's best XML tools - and what's in store for the future
Drawing on everyday examples from daily newspapers to 1950's "B" movies, Just XML, Second Edition gets you rolling with XML faster than you ever thought possible! Sure, you'll learn the theory you need along the way, but most important, you'll be using XML from the very beginning. Before you waste time and money learning more complicated approaches to Web development, discover how much you can do with Just XML!
ABOUT THE AUTHOR:JOHN E. SIMPSON began his computing career in 1979, working on mainframe, UNIX, and PC applications for 12 years with AT&T in Piscataway, NJ. Since 1993, he has been a Distributed Systems Specialist with the city of Tallahassee, FL, specializing in database applications development. He is co-author of HTML for Fun and Profit (Prentice Hall PTR) and webmaster for the Tallahassee Public Works Department and for Anhinga Press, a publisher of poetry.
Library Journal
This is such a beginner's book that webmaster Simpson (coauthor of HTML for Fun and Profit) doesn't even expect the reader to understand HTML, although he acknowledges that a familiarity with HTML will obviously help in understanding XML. Simpson uses B movies as his model and slowly develops what he calls FlixML, his mark-up language, to communicate information about B movies. This is an excellent teaching model to use since most of us have seen--and probably loved--movies such as The Creature from the Black Lagoon. Simpson covers the basics, XML tools for hyperlinking, how style sheets work with XML, creating your own XML application, and where XML might be going. Copyright 1999 Cahners Business Information.