Canada IT Courses
ExitCertified US




ExitCertified - Excellence in IT Certified Education
 
IT education classes
IT training feature sheet
 
   
 
start > courses and registration > training feature sheet
QUICKSTART Web Development: Core XML (XML, Schema, XPath, and XSLT) :: [TT-4300]
 
 
 
 
 
 
code. TT-4300   length. 3 days
type. Instructor-Led   partner. Other Java :: Development :: Trivera
price.
$1,250 :: contact for GSA GOV.
 
 
This course is an intensive, hands-on introduction to XML, XPath, and XSLT. The course is a balanced mixture of theory and practical labs designed to take students from the basic fundamentals of XML right through to the advanced XML technologies. The students are walked through the different standards in a structured manner to enable them to master the concepts and ideas, which are reinforced in the lab exercises. The course starts with the fundamentals of XML, including coverage of either DTDs or XML Schema. It then moves on to the XPath and XSLT standards, and how to use them to transform XML documents into other documents such as HTML documents or other XML documents.
 
course schedule  
 
There are currently no scheduled dates for this course. If you are interested in this course, request a course date with the links below.
   
Request course date Request on site training
 
who can benefit
  
 
Those needing an introduction to concepts and technologies associated with XML and its related recommendations.
 
prerequisites
  
 
None. Previous experience or knowledge of HTML is helpful but not essential.
 
course overview
  
 
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 (VoiceXML), Simple Object Access Protocol (SOAP), Web Services, and numerous industry initiatives such as ACORD (insurance), PXML (proposal/RFP) and OTA (travel).

ExitCertified provides an intense 3-day introduction to XML. This course provides indoctrination in the practical use of W3C standards (including XSL and XML Schema) and of implementing tools and technologies. This course is programming language independent, making it useful for Java, .NET, C++, and any other programming orientation. Graduates will hit the ground running, applying XML to projects at both an architectural as well as a line by line coding level. We ca easily adapt this course to industry and client specific needs.

In addition to valuable knowledge and working examples, students 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 students can use on Windows and Linux platforms.
 
tools for this course
  
 
Our lab guides are complete with software-specific instructions, screen shots and detailed tutorials for using the software you select. Please contact us for additional details, or to make your software selection for this course. In most cases we can easily port our classes to run in the environment of your choosing.
 
student materials
  
 
Student Materials include a comprehensive Student Guide complete with detailed course notes, diagrams and a copy of the presentation. Step-by-step lab instructions are clearly illustrated for maximum learning. ExitCertified students also receive a Student Developer Resource CD, complete with workshop labs and solutions; non-restricted workshop software, pertinent javadocs, technical education papers, specifications and freeware.

We're pleased to provide a detailed set up guide for all private or on-site courses, and as much assistance as you require to prepare your students or classroom for the course, to the best of our ability. Our instructors can be contacted for any advice you may require to prepare your classroom.



 
why choose this course?
  
 

Students will learn how to code, use (and reuse!) XML development skills and concepts properly, using best coding practices.
Students will be well grounded for advanced XML curriculum, and will be prepared for independent study.
Each lesson has performance driven objectives that ensure students will learn technologies and hands-on skills core to essential advanced Java programming - nothing more, nothing less. Progressive labs are designed in such a way that students get a firm grasp on fundamental skills while they work toward building a complete Java application.
We offer more than a "laundry list" approach to teaching. All lessons have clear objectives, are fundamental to learning core J2EE programming practices, and are reinforced by hands-on code labs and solid practical examples.
A detailed Work Book accompanies this course to guide students through hands-on exercises and projects. Formal written exercises, tutorials and code solutions ensure hands-on work is clear, concise and useful, both during class and afterwards. Solution code is presented in an easy to use self-study format for future use and review.
ExitCertified’s instructors and course authors are also skilled mentors, J2EE developers and architects. We believe that learning, using and maintaining solid software execution and delivery methods are as important as gaining sharp coding skills. Best Practices for software development and execution, beyond technical coding skills, are enforced throughout all of our courses.
Materials are complete, robust and thorough, based on our team's years of training experience, our vast project development experience and student feedback




 
course content details  
 


  Session 1: XML Content - Lesson: XML Overview

A Simple HTML Example
An XML Analogy
XML Separates Structure, Content and Format
XML Document Syntax Rules
A Document Type Definition
What is XML?
History: SGML; HTML
Why Have XML?
How are HTML and XML Related?
XML Example: ACORD
Format: XSL
XML Transformation to HTML; to VoiceXML to Email List; to PDF
XML Author Roles; Tool Roles
XML Applications
Exercise: Overview of Case Study


  XML Content - Lesson: XML Mechanics

XML Document Structure
XML Declaration
Document Must Have Single Root Element
Elements Must Have Close Tags
Empty Tags End With />
Elements With Content
Tags Must Nest Properly
XML is Case Sensitive
XML Names Are Special
Attribute Values Must Be Quoted
Processing Instructions
Comments
Content as MarkUp
Tell Parser That Text is Data
Use Predefined Entities
Namespaces Associate Alias with a URI
XML Document Structure
Reviewing an XML Instance
Well-Formed and Valid XML Documents
Why Are These Definitions Important?
XML Separates Structure, Content and Format
Exercise: Well-Formed XML Documents


  Session 2: XML Structure - Lesson: Structure Using DTDs

Document Type Definition (DTD)
A Document Type Definition; Declaration
DOCTYPE: Internal Subset ; External Subset ; Public Identifier
Internal/External Subsets
Root Element: The Markup
J2EE Enterprise Archive
Element Declarations
Content Specifications
Mixed Content Model
Attribute Declarations & Types
Default Declaration
Elements vs. Attributes: When to use them?
Benefits From Valid XML
Exercise: Let's Take a Look at Some DTDs
Exercise: DTDs and Valid XML Documents
Complex Content Models
Attribute Types
Restrictions on Enumerated List
Tokenized Attribute Types
ID Attributes Uniquely Identify Elements
IDREF Attribute Values Must Be Existing IDs
Connecting to Resources
Categories of Entities
Internal Entities; Parsed External Entities ; Parameter Entities ; Unparsed External Entities
Notations
Example: PDF Reader
DTD Constructs
Reviewing a DTD and Document
Exercise: DTD Development and Use


  Lesson: Namespaces

Name Conflicts Can Be a Problem in XML
Unique Names or Attributes Could Be Used
Namespaces Are W3C Solution
Namespaces Associate an Alias with a URI
Uniform Resource Indicator
Declaring a Namespace
Parsers Use URI, Not the Alias
Namespace Scope
Default Namespace
Attributes and Namespaces
Namespaces Further Restrict XML Names
Namespaces Best Practices
Exercise: Working With Namespaces


  Lesson: Structure Using Schemas

Benefits From Valid XML
DTDs Have Some Limitations
XML Schemas: Objectives
Impacts of Schemas
Corresponding XML Schema
Global and Local Components
Schemas Bring Data Types to Validation
Built-In Types
Restricting Simple Types: Facets
Complex Types Bring More to Validation
Repetition Control
Restricting Simple Types
Groups
Schema Components
Complex Types Can be Derived
Derivation by Extension
Extension of Phone Number
Associating Schemas with XML Instances
Namespaces Provide Thread of Connection
Schema Defines a Target Namespace
XML Doc Uses Schema-Defined Namespace
schemaLocation Links Namespace to Location
Reviewing a Schema and Document 154
Identify Constraints Expand on ID/IDREF
Reuse and Manageability of Schemas
Schema Composition
Reusable Groups
Exercise: Schema Development and Use


  Session 3: XML Formatting - Lesson: CSS and Rendering XML

Simple Lessons from HTML
Cascading Style Sheets
How Do They "Cascade"?
HTML Processing Flow
How does XML Impact Styling?
Cascading Style Sheets and XML
XML/CSS Processing Flow
Rendering Needs Exceed CSS's Abilities
Inconsistent Support for XML
Exercise: CSS and Rendering XML


  Lesson: XSL Transformations

XSL Standards Have Evolved
XPath Describes Locations Within XML
XSLT is Rule-Based Transformation Language
XSL is Oriented Towards Formatting
XSL Family Working Together
Allows Different Output From Stylesheet
Stylesheets Can Be Linked to XML Instance
XPath Accesses Parts of Document
XSLT Templates Specify Output Replacement
XSLT Can Output HTML
XSLT Uses XPath Expressions Within Templates
XSL Stylesheet is an XML Document
Exercise: XSLT and Transforming XML


  Lesson: XSLT and XPath

XSL Version Issues
What is XPath?
XPath Addresses XML Document as a Tree
An XPath Expression Has Two Parts
Expressions Can Be Absolute or Relative
The Axis Points the Way
Abbreviated Axis Forms Are Commonly Used
An XPath Expression Performs a Node Test
Predicates Are Optional Filters
Predicates Can Be on Value, Position, or Existence
XPath Operators; Functions; Examples
Exercise: Working With XPath
What is XSLT?
XSLT Stylesheets Are XML Documents
XSLT Stylesheet Structure
Templates Are The Rules in a Stylesheet
Apply-Templates Directs Processing
Use value-of to Extract Values
Built-in Templates Are Default if No Other Applicable
Building a Stylesheet
Text Handling
Calling Templates
Passing Parameters
Conditional Processing Constructs
Handling the Surname
Handling the Rest
Looping With <xsl:for-each>
Sorting
Constructing A New Node
Exercise: XSLT Development and Use


  Session 4: Advanced XML Formatting - Lesson: XSL FO (Formatting Objects)

What is XSL-FO?
XSLT Designed to Support XSL-FO
XSL Family Working Together
Apache's FOP: Rendering XML
XSL-FO Supports Paged Media
XSL-FO Document Root Has a Common Overall Structure
Here We Define A Page Type
Page Types Can Be Conditional
Content Flows Into Page Regions
Flow Goes to Defined Regions
Label Example Produced With XSL-FO
Couple of Caveats….
Exercise: Working With XSL-FO


  Lesson: Effective XSL Design

Advanced Features
Entities Used For Parameter Sets
<xsl:message> Signals Conditions
Advanced Features
Example of Cities and Hotels
generate-id() for Both Endpoints
Creates Unique Identifier for Each Node
Advanced Features
Information Grouping is Common
Grouping by Keys May Be Used in Output
preceding-sibling:: axis is One Approach
Select Cities With First Occurrence of a State
<xsl:key> and key() Work to Select Groups
Advanced Features
Advanced Features
<xsl:copy-of> is Complete
<xsl:copy> is Limited
name() Returns the Node Name
Advanced Features
Whitespace and Why We Care
Parser Can Perform Whitespace Actions
Stripping Whitespace
Whitespace in Stylesheet Are Usually Stripped
Sometimes Whitespace Creeps into Output
Whitespace Coming From Source
Whitespace Coming From Stylesheet
You May Want Whitespace
Import or Include Statements Compose Stylesheets
Debugging Multiple Stylesheets Can Be Difficult
Stylesheet Design Patterns
Simplest Pattern is Fill-in-the-Blanks
Fill-in-the-Blanks Uses Simplified Stylesheet Syntax
Navigational Stylesheets are an Option
Rule-Based Stylesheets are Common
Exercise: XSLT Design


  Session 5: Applying XML - Lesson: XML Interoperability

Analyzing the XML
XML From a Data Perspective
Database Characteristics
IBM's DB2 as Example
Application Considerations
XML/Database Example
Character Encoding Issues
Direct XML Storage
Challenges to Mapping XML
XML to RDB
RDB to XML
Middleware Can Help


  Lesson: XML Performance Improvements

What are Best Practices?
Organization of Best Practices
Gotchas
Exercise: Best Practices Review


  Lesson: Web Services Overview

Infrastructure Supporting a Web App
Constraints of Implementation Options
What are Web Services?
XML in Web Services
SOAP Specification Provides:
SOAP Message Syntax
A Simple Example...
Remote Procedure Calls
Example of SOAP RPC Call
Example of Response
WSDL: Description
Example of WSDL Instance
UDDI: Publication and Search
Web Services Enables Decoupling
Web Services Advantages
Many Web Services Challenges
Spec and Standard Evolution
Web Services Interoperability Organization
WS-I Has Many Deliverables
Base Profile 1.0 Consists of:
Has > 100 Requirements and Suggestions
Security is Evolving Picture
XML Signature is Part of Web Services Picture
Standard For Digital Signature
XML Encryption Protects Data
WS Security Is More Specific, Oriented Towards Tokens
Tokens Are Used for Many Aspects of Security Picture
Token Used as Referenced Key
Exercise: Interacting with Web Services


  Lesson: XML Applications

W3C Activities
Benefits of XML
Drawbacks of XML
XML Separates Structure, Content and Format
What is a Content Model?
Why Have a Data Model?
Data Models in Action
Data Model Complexity
Data Model Considerations
XML in Web Publishing
Transcoding for Multiple Targets
XML Transcoding Architecture
Crossing Boundaries
Application Architectures
XML: Lightweight Databases
Application Integration
Challenges to Integration
From Tag to Architecture