Training Course: Exchanging and Transforming Data Using XML and XSLT (1913, MOC 1913)

Training Course Summary:

The goal of this course is to teach developers techniques for exchanging and transforming data by using the Extensible Markup Language (XML) and Extensible Stylesheet Language Transformations (XSLT). The course describes best practices for XML and XSLT and gives compelling examples of the best ways to solve real-world problems.

After completing this course, students will be able to define XML Path Language (XPath) expressions to locate and filter the content of an XML document; define XSLT style sheets to transform XML documents at the Web browser and Web server; create and change XML structure by using XSLT; use XSLT to merge different XML documents and generate cross-references between them; and create a Visual Basic application that uses the Simple API for XML (SAX) to access large XML documents.

Pre-Requisites:

A moderate degree of Web development experience using HTML and XML.

• A moderate degree of experience scripting with Visual Basic for Applications, VBScript, or JavaScript.

• Some prior experience using COM objects, Active Server Pages (ASP pages), and either Visual Basic or Microsoft Visual C++.

• Taking one or more of the following courses will help the students meet the prerequisites and get more out of the course:• Course 1905, Building XML-Based Web Applications

• Course 1013, Mastering Microsoft Visual Basic 6 Development

• Course 1017, Mastering Web Application Development Using Microsoft Visual InterDev 6

Who Should Attend:

This course is intended for Web developers who have used XML to create simple Web applications, and need to know how to exploit the full potential of XML and XSLT.

The course is also intended for Microsoft Visual Basic developers who have some exposure to XML, and need more detailed information about XML in order to build and integrate systems by using XML and XSLT.

Training Course Overview/Content:

Module 1: Overview of XML and XSLT

The following topics are covered in this module:

• Representing Data with XML

• Transforming XML Documents with XSLT

• Using XML and XSLT to Build Solutions


After completing this module, students wll be able to:

• Describe the syntax of XML documents.

• Describe the purpose of XSLT style sheets

• Describe typical problems that XSLT style sheets are used to solve.


Module 2: Selecting and Navigating Nodes Using XPath

The following topics are covered in this module:

• Introducing XPath

• Accessing Node Information

• Navigating a Document Using Location Paths

• Using Operators and Functions in Location Paths

• Lab 2.1: Accessing Node Information

• Lab 2.2: Selecting and Navigating Nodes Using XPath


After completing this module, you will be able to use Xpath to traverse nodes in a tree. This includes:


• Using XPath expressions within the Document Object Model (DOM) methods selectNodes() and selectSingleNode().

• Writing XPath location paths to select specific nodes from an XML document.

• Writing conditional expressions in XPath.

• Using XPath operators and functions to write more sophisticated expressions.


Module 3: Introducing XSLT

The following topics are covered in this module:

• Introducing XSLT

• Template Rules

• Enhancing Template Rules

• Lab: Defining and Using Template Rules


After completing this module, you will be able to explain and implement the rules for using templates in XSLT. This includes:


• Applying an XSLT style sheet to an XML document, both statically and dynamically.

• Defining and instantiating template rules to make use of the transformation capabilities of XSLT.


Module 4: Refining and Combining Style Sheets

The following topics are covered in this module:

• Sorting Document Content

• Controlling Document Output

• Including and Importing Style Sheets

• Lab: Refining and Combining XSLT Style Sheets


After completing this module, you will be able to sort the contents of an XML document and use style sheets. This includes:


• Specifying a sort order for the result document, alphabetically or numerically, in ascending or descending order.

• Specifing number formats for the result document.

• Specifing whether white space in the result document is stripped or preserved.

• Including one style sheet inside another.

• Importing one style sheet into another.

• Overriding imported template rules in the main style sheet.


Module 5: Programming with XSLT

The following topics are covered in this module:

• Named Templates

• Variables and Parameters

• Performing Repetition and Conditional Processing

• Using XSLT Extension Elements and Functions

• Lab: Programming with XSLT


After completing this module, you will be able to write code to perform tasks in XSLT. This includes:


• Defining and calling named templates.

• Using named templates to organize a style sheet effectively.

• Defining variables to represent complex expressions.

• Defining parameters for a template rule or a style sheet.

• Performing repetition and conditional logic within a template.

• Using extension elements and extension functions.


Module 6: Defining XML Grammar and Data Types

The following topics are covered in this module:

• Defining and Using XML Schemas

• Defining Elements in an XML Schema

• Defining Attributes in an XML Schema

• Defining Data Types in an XML Schema

• XML Schemas and ADO

• Lab: Defining XML Grammar and Data Types


After completing this module, you will be able to create and use an XML Schema. This includes:


• Creating an XML Schema definition.

• Applying an XML Schema to an XML document.

• Using an XML Schema to define the grammar of an XML document.

• Using an XML Schema to describe the content data types in an XML document.


Module 7: Creating and Changing XML Structure with XSLT

The following

Qualifications:

There is no Microsoft Certified Professional exam associated with this course.