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 hands-on 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.
  
  
  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