Hi Elizabeth, My choice would be any of the Wrox or O'Reilly titles. To really leverage XML you need XSLT. Whereas you might get away with tutorials etc for XML you'll definitely need a good book for XSLT. I'd recommend 'XSLT & XPath' by John Gardner & Zarella Rendon, Prentice Hall. There's also a new title out from Wrox by Jenny Tennison which, judging from other stuff of hers that I've read, should be good. rgds, Tony Cusack. ----- Original Message ----- From: "Fullerton, Elizabeth" <Elizabeth.Fullerton@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx> To: <austechwriter@xxxxxxxxxxxxx> Sent: Thursday, May 29, 2003 8:08 AM Subject: [austechwriter] Re: I'm not sure how well a strict XML structure would work in the real world > Can anyone recommend a good XML book for beginners? (A timely question = > from one of my business analysts - and it's probably not a bad idea for = > me to start looking at one, either). > > > > > -----Original Message----- > From: tcusack@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx [mailto:tcusack@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx] > Sent: Wednesday, 28 May 2003 10:54 AM > To: austechwriter@xxxxxxxxxxxxx > Subject: [austechwriter] Re: I'm not sure how well a strict XML > structure would work in the real world > > > Quoting Steve Hudson <cruddy@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>: > > > 3) A couple of examples of stuff I am pretty sure we can do in XML but = > not > > in HTML. > > Sure, so far as XML tags & attributes are concerned: <myDate = > fmt=3D"sensible">28=20 > May 2003</myDate>. But XSL doesn't include any date functions so you'd = > have to=20 > build your own. > > >=20 > > Date tags with the date format tagged as well > > Prices tagged with whether it includes GST. > >=20 > >=20 > > 4a) I meant turning a set of delimited data constructs into a nicely = > ruled > > up column and row layout effect :-) It's a table of data that needs to = > be > > laid out as a human-viewable table. > > Oh, that's what I meant as well, so I don't see the problem. Any = > technology=20 > that includes a text source for the formatting device to read is = > amenable to=20 > XML-XSL. Currently this means HTML, PDF via XSLT:FO and now that MS have = > come=20 > to the party, Word docs. Not suggesting that the transformations are = > easy, but=20 > they will become widely available over the next 18 mths or so. > > ciao, > TC. > > >=20 > > E1) LOL. > >=20 > >=20 > > Steve Hudson > >=20 > > Word Heretic, Sydney, Australia > > Tricky stuff with Word or words for you. > > Email: word_heretic@xxxxxxxxxxxx > > Products: http://www.geocities.com/word_heretic/products.html > > Spellbooks: 735 pages of dump left and dropping... > >=20 > > The VBA Beginner's Spellbook: For all VBA users. > >=20 > >=20 > > -----Original Message----- > > From: Tony Cusack > >=20 > > Hi Steve, > > 2) I'll be distributing some standard XSLTs 'sometime' this year. > > 3) As I say DTDs are for me highly desirable but not essential. So far = > as > > coming up with a generic doc model is concerned my argument is that = > it's > > already here by way of HTML. HTML is the lingua franca of electronic > > publishing - just about everything will pass through that filter at = > some > > stage in its life cycle. So why not adopt it as the bottom line model. = > I'd > > love to hear some ifs and buts on this. > > 4) Not sure what you mean by table tables. But given an XML structure = > to > > begin with I don't believe there's any other structure (ie whacky = > exceptions > > excepted) that can't be derived from it with XSLT. There are of course = > other > > transformation languages re which I know next to nothing. > > 4a) Yeh, again I know little about typesetting. But XSLT:FO works a = > treat > > for the kind of hard copy that you or I might be asked to produce on a > > techwriting gig. > > 4b) Whew a litany of dunnos. But, to change tack a little - my beef is = > with > > the perception that DTDs are essential to XML. Its designers did the = > world a > > big service by providing the less demanding rules of well-formedness, = > and my > > criticism is that that fact is often overlooked. But I'm not blind to = > the > > fact that the additional functional they support will be essential in = > many > > contexts and highly desirable in others. > >=20 > > An Essential context is web-services - a topic which doesn't seem to = > have > > got much of a trot on this list although I'm pretty sporadic in > > monitoring-participating. A highly desirable context is drop downs in > > editing interfaces such as you mention in 1). > >=20 > > Main point: the DTD syntax is itself pretty simple. They shouldn't be = > an > > issue in a well established production process. But they can be a pain = > in > > the neck when you're developing, so baste before you garnish. > >=20 > > E1) For my sins I got to be the writer for the Solution 6 Tax package = > a few > > years back. So tell me about ELF ('though we called it ELS for = > service). All > > this (yr trade eg too) will be defined as web services in the next = > couple of > > years. > >=20 > > ciao, > > Tony. > >=20 > >=20 > > ----- Original Message ----- > > From: "Steve Hudson" <cruddy@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx> > > To: <austechwriter@xxxxxxxxxxxxx> > > Sent: Tuesday, May 27, 2003 10:48 AM > > Subject: [austechwriter] Re: I'm not sure how well a strict XML = > structure > > would work in the real world > >=20 > >=20 > > > Dear Tony, > > > > > > some excellent points here, a few very close to my heart. > > > > > > 1) Agreed, and nice howevers. > > > > > > 2) Totally agreed, I have been raving about, and pushing developers = > for > > > ages, providing some gorgeous XML tools that build DTDs from a = > simple GUI > > > (hand tweak if you want finesse, most of us want simple, repeatable > > stuff). > > > Standard XSLTs could also be built - and even integrated into the = > provided > > > toolset. A simple example, the HATT systems could have a dropdown = > with > > > audiences listed that would change the provided content. Skins could = > be > > > modified on the fly for those people with visual difficulties and so = > on. > > > <Rave mode detected, autoshutdown commencing in 3 words. Three, two = > one. > > > CARRIER DROPPED> > > > > > > 3) Something addressable by said tools in 2). Problem is, most = > developers > > > are waiting for MS to take a direction :-( After all, they are the = > boys > > with > > > the big bucks right? And whoever develops these tools will sure as = > shit > > see > > > MS rip them off. Not good. Time for another HotDog I think, the = > current > > > organisations seem too complacent and cautious. I might have to = > start > > > looking further afield into hackerdom <shudders>. Man, if you want = > to > > <Rave > > > mode detected, autoshutdown commencing in 3 words. Three, two one. = > CARRIER > > > DROPPED> > > > > > > 4) Disagree. Tables are structured data and fit neatly into an XML = > schema. > > > However, the presentation transform then needs to convert them into = > table > > > tables. > > > > > > 4a) AFAIAC, the most difficult problem for XML is flowing into = > print. Each > > > hand-setup we see in books is monstrously difficult and forbiddingly > > > time-consuming to perform for each possible combination of tags when = > we > > are > > > talking about very rich, highly structured data. However, = > auto-setting > > > technology is improving slowly and given the proliferation of unset = > type > > > this may not be such an issue to the next generation. Other than = > myself - > > an > > > observably insane person anyway - who cares about auto-hyphenation = > under > > the > > > age of 40 anyway? :-) > > > > > > 4b) You then raise the insurance form thingy. This is, unfortunately = > for > > > your argument, an excellent example of why business needs XML. Don't > > forget > > > Tony, Big Business made COBOL. At least the XML principle is > > understandable, > > > but the DTD looks like COBOL won again. LOL! > > > > > > Lets take a few existing, simple examples. I know I repeat, but = > history > > > points to our future. > > > > > > E1) The ATO introduced a little thing known as an ELF back in the = > early > > > eighties. It revolutionised the tax industry. It facilitated the > > > streamlining of returns from many months to a few weeks. It's an > > Electronic > > > Lodgement Form. You can now generate these direct from software and = > send > > > them in by the net. My old man was doing it for his clients as he = > owned > > and > > > operated a small accountancy business using mini computers. He was = > pleased > > > as well, profits grew and he took on more staff and partners. > > > > > > E2) The shipping and customs industries internationally have used a > > > standardised EXIT form from the late eighties. It revolutionised > > > international shipping, reducing error rates, delivery times and > > processing > > > inefficiencies whilst increasing the control and flexibility. = > Governments > > > and businesses alike were able to exchange meaningful information = > with a > > > minimum of fuss on a global scale. > > > > > > So, the very bottom line of business requires the use of = > standardised data > > > exchange on many levels. Business requires control. In the real = > business > > > world, a strict XML structure for data components is almost a = > certainity. > > > What we need is the tools to make it happen. At the present point = > the best > > > tool is the human mind version 2003 through Notepad. The tool needs > > training > > > and the best place in Aus for that is the AODC. > > > > > > Steve Hudson > > > > > > Word Heretic, Sydney, Australia > > > Tricky stuff with Word or words for you. > > > Email: word_heretic@xxxxxxxxxxxx > > > Products: http://www.geocities.com/word_heretic/products.html > > > Spellbooks: 735 pages of dump left and dropping... > > > > > > The VBA Beginner's Spellbook: For all VBA users. > > > > > > > > > -----Original Message----- > > > From: Tony Cusack > > > > > > Hello all, > > > This is my second attempt to post this, so apologies if you've seen = > it > > > before. > > > > > > But following on from last week's discussion re Word & Frame and = > 'font > > > fondling' vs structured and all that, I (as unabashed XML = > proselytizer) > > feel > > > I have to draw attention to a couple of facts. > > > > > > First is this: YOU DO NOT NEED A DTD TO RUN XML > > > Sorry about the caps, but it's such a widespread misconception that = > the > > > contrary is true. Certainly if you want to validate the XML file = > then you > > > must have a DTD (or other rules file). But XML has so much to offer = > apart > > > from validation that it's a shame to see techwriters dismissing it = > on > > > account of a complication that isn't relevant to 90% of the work = > that they > > > do. Sure if you're in Bill Hall's situation (Defence, stringent = > content > > > control, high volumes) then you'll be buying into the full = > catastrophe. > > But > > > others should be aware that XML has introduced (as a qualification = > to the > > > stricter, more complex & powerful SGML) what could be described as = > an > > 'entry > > > level grammar' . The so called rules of WELL-FORMEDNESS prescribe a = > very > > > simple structure that a document must have in order to be = > processable by > > an > > > XML aware application. > > > > > > This fact qualifies the following Mike Buckler statements. > > > > > > Authoring XML/SGML is definitely slower. There are several reasons. > > > > > > 1) Using a DTD as complex as Docbook requires many hours of study. > > > True, but why a DTD? And even if you're using one, why DocBook. My = > point > > is > > > that the questions should be put - there are of course good reasons = > for > > > both, in some circumstances. > > > > > > 2) The current crop of XML/SGML aware tools are not particularly = > user > > > friendly. > > > This is off the present topic but I'd have to differ again: XML Spy = > is the > > > goods IMHO; I can't comment on others 'cause I haven't seriously = > tried > > them > > > (no need to :-) > > > > > > 3) If the DTD doesn't fit the type of document exactly, then you can > > > spend as much time revising the DTD and style rules as actually > > > writing the document. > > > As for 1 above. And Spy (and other tools) will reverse engineer a = > DTD from > > > an XML document. > > > > > > 4) Things like tables do not fit into the classic XML/SGML model. = > This > > > is where presentation (column and row layout) comes into play and > > > messes up the whole point of using XML/SGML in the first place. > > > I'm at a loss to understand where this comment is coming from, but = > venture > > > the following. I suspect that Mike has formed his opinion under the > > > influence of DocBook. DocBook is a very rich DTD and will save lots = > of DTD > > > developers lots of work over the long term. But its default table = > model is > > > CALS which (I believe) is of longstanding use in the = > defence/aerospace > > SGML > > > community. CALS is somewhat more complex than the much more widely > > > understood HTML model, and translation between the two is less than > > > straightforward (but no more than a few hours work for a competent = > XSLT, > > > Perl, whatever, scripter). > > > > > > But for most techwriters most of the time this is all pretty = > esoteric. > > There > > > is no 'classic model'. Describe your table as you would in HTML and = > worry > > > about more complex models as and when the need arises. > > > > > > The current hype around XML is mainly to do with data interchange > > > between application that do data processing. For example an = > insurance > > > claim form where a set number of fields must be completed in order = > to > > > create a "valid document". > > > > > > I don't know that the hype is quite current (I thought it peaked a = > couple > > of > > > years back, but maybe that's just me) - but the distinction between = > data > > > centric and document centric XML is important. It's true that most = > of the > > > XML development focus through the e-commerce period has been on data > > centric > > > forms such as Mike cites. But SGML was designed for narrative style > > > documents and XML is only slightly less capable in that regard. For = > myself > > > I've spent a good deal of time figuring out the XSLT necessary to = > navigate > > > narrative style doc structures, wondering all the while what the = > much > > > vaunted implementation of XML in Word would mean. Well now that it's = > here > > > (in beta) I can say that the good news (and fact number two in this = > little > > > spiel) is > > > > > > WORD 2003'S XML FUNCTIONALITY IS NOT PROPRIETARY > > > How so? Because the standards bar is actually quite low. As I've = > pointed > > out > > > earlier an XML doc need only conform with well-formedness rules to = > 'be' > > XML. > > > It's true that Word 2000's Save as Web Page conversion introduced = > some > > > shonky syntax. But that's all gone in the 2003 save as XML = > functionality. > > > What you get is pretty much what you always got in RTF, a complete > > > description of the doc with content and formatting closely = > juxtaposed, > > > except that it's now expressed in XML. The 'close juxtaposition' = > makes it > > a > > > bit laborious to step around all the formatting tags (when XSLT > > processing), > > > but it's quite doable. > > > > > > Fact number three: INTERNET EXPLORER AND NOTEPAD ARE ALL YOU NEED TO = > DO > > XML > > > Well, if we're talking 'real world' then it's unlikely that you'd = > limit > > > yourself to these. I guess my point is to urge writers such as = > Elizabeth > > who > > > are wondering what the go is with XML to start experimenting. The = > outlay > > > isn't financial it's time spent learning the standards, namely XML, = > XSLT > > and > > > CSS/HTML. XSLT is the most difficult of these but by no means the > > proverbial > > > rocket science. I'd rate it about 60% the difficulty of VBA. > > > > > > Is it worth it? There will always be a fair degree of subjectivity = > in that > > > assessment but I'm confident that the coming together of public = > standards > > > and Microsofts's implementations in IE and Office means that these = > skills > > > will increasingly become 'core' for techwriters. > > > > > > Hello all, > > > the operative word in Elizabeth's question is 'strict'. > > > Forgive me for chasing the train well after it's departed the = > station. But > > > following on from last week's discussion re Word & Frame and 'font > > fondling' > > > vs structured and all that, I (as unabashed XML proselytizer) feel I = > have > > to > > > draw attention to a couple of facts. > > > > > > First is this: YOU DO NOT NEED A DTD TO RUN XML > > > Sorry about the caps, but it's such a widespread misconception that = > the > > > contrary is true. Certainly if you want to validate the XML file = > then you > > > must have a DTD (or other rules file). But XML has so much to offer = > apart > > > from validation that it's a shame to see techwriters dismissing it = > on > > > account of a complication that isn't relevant to 90% of the work = > that they > > > do. Sure if you're in Bill Hall's situation (Defence, stringent = > content > > > control, high volumes) then you'll be buying into the full = > catastrophe. > > But > > > others should be aware that XML has introduced (as a qualification = > to the > > > stricter, more complex & powerful SGML) what could be described as = > an > > 'entry > > > level grammar' . The so called rules of WELL-FORMEDNESS prescribe a = > very > > > simple structure that a document must have in order to be = > processable by > > an > > > XML aware application. > > > > > > This fact qualifies the following Mike Buckler statements. > > > > > > Authoring XML/SGML is definitely slower. There are several reasons. > > > > > > 1) Using a DTD as complex as Docbook requires many hours of study. > > > True, but why a DTD? And even if you're using one, why DocBook. My = > point > > is > > > that the questions should be put - there are of course good reasons = > for > > > both, in some circumstances. > > > > > > 2) The current crop of XML/SGML aware tools are not particularly = > user > > > friendly. > > > This is off the present topic but I'd have to differ again: XML Spy = > is the > > > goods IMHO; I can't comment on others 'cause I haven't seriously = > tried > > them > > > (no need to :-) > > > > > > 3) If the DTD doesn't fit the type of document exactly, then you can > > > spend as much time revising the DTD and style rules as actually > > > writing the document. > > > As for 1 above. And Spy (and other tools) will reverse engineer a = > DTD from > > > an XML document. > > > > > > 4) Things like tables do not fit into the classic XML/SGML model. = > This > > > is where presentation (column and row layout) comes into play and > > > messes up the whole point of using XML/SGML in the first place. > > > I'm at a loss to understand where this comment is coming from, but = > venture > > > the following. I suspect that Mike has formed his opinion under the > > > influence of DocBook. DocBook is a very rich DTD and will save lots = > of DTD > > > developers lots of work over the long term. But its default table = > model is > > > CALS which (I believe) is of longstanding use in the = > defence/aerospace > > SGML > > > community. CALS is somewhat more complex than the much more widely > > > understood HTML model, and translation between the two is less than > > > straightforward (but no more than a few hours work for a competent = > XSLT, > > > Perl, whatever, scripter). > > > > > > But for most techwriters most of the time this is all pretty = > esoteric. > > There > > > is no 'classic model'. Describe your table as you would in HTML and = > worry > > > about more complex models as and when the need arises. > > > > > > The current hype around XML is mainly to do with data interchange > > > between application that do data processing. For example an = > insurance > > > claim form where a set number of fields must be completed in order = > to > > > create a "valid document". > > > > > > I don't know that the hype is quite current (I thought it peaked a = > couple > > of > > > years back, but maybe that's just me) - but the distinction between = > data > > > centric and document centric XML is important. It's true that most = > of the > > > XML development focus through the e-commerce period has been on data > > centric > > > forms such as Mike cites. But SGML was designed for narrative style > > > documents and XML is only slightly less capable in that regard. For = > myself > > > I've spent a good deal of time figuring out the XSLT necessary to = > navigate > > > narrative style doc structures, wondering all the while what the = > much > > > vaunted implementation of XML in Word would mean. Well now that it's = > here > > > (in beta) I can say that the good news (and fact number two in this = > little > > > spiel) is > > > > > > WORD 2003'S XML FUNCTIONALITY IS NOT PROPRIETARY > > > How so? Because the standards bar is actually quite low. As I've = > pointed > > out > > > earlier an XML doc need only conform with well-formedness rules to = > 'be' > > XML. > > > It's true that Word 2000's Save as Web Page conversion introduced = > some > > > shonky syntax. But that's all gone in the 2003 save as XML = > functionality. > > > What you get is pretty much what you always got in RTF, a complete > > > description of the doc with content and formatting closely = > juxtaposed, > > > except that it's now expressed in XML. The 'close juxtaposition' = > makes it > > a > > > bit laborious to step around all the formatting tags (when XSLT > > processing), > > > but it's quite doable. > > > > > > Fact number three: INTERNET EXPLORER AND NOTEPAD ARE ALL YOU NEED TO = > DO > > XML > > > Well, if we're talking 'real world' then it's unlikely that you'd = > limit > > > yourself to these. I guess my point is to urge writers such as = > Elizabeth > > who > > > are wondering what the go is with XML to start experimenting. The = > outlay > > > isn't financial it's time spent learning the standards, namely XML, = > XSLT > > and > > > CSS/HTML. XSLT is the most difficult of these but by no means the > > proverbial > > > rocket science. I'd rate it about 60% the difficulty of VBA. > > > > > > Is it worth it? There will always be a degree of subjectivity in = > that > > > assessment. But I'm confident that the coming together of public = > standards > > > and Microsoft implementations in IE and Office mean that these = > skills will > > > increasingly become 'core' for techwriters. > > > > > > rgds, > > > Tony Cusack, > > > www.textology.com.au > > > > > > > > > ************************************************** > > > To post a message to austechwriter, send the message to > > austechwriter@xxxxxxxxxxxxxx > > > > > > To subscribe to austechwriter, send a message to > > austechwriter-request@xxxxxxxxxxxxx with "subscribe" in the Subject = > field. > > > > > > To unsubscribe, send a message to = > austechwriter-request@xxxxxxxxxxxxx with > > "unsubscribe" in the Subject field. > > > > > > To search the austechwriter archives, go to > > www.freelist.org/archives/austechwriter > > > > > > To contact the list administrator, send a message to > > austechwriter-admins@xxxxxxxxxxxxx > > > ************************************************** > >=20 > > ************************************************** > > To post a message to austechwriter, send the message to > > austechwriter@xxxxxxxxxxxxxx > >=20 > > To subscribe to austechwriter, send a message to > > austechwriter-request@xxxxxxxxxxxxx with "subscribe" in the Subject = > field. > >=20 > > To unsubscribe, send a message to austechwriter-request@xxxxxxxxxxxxx = > with > > "unsubscribe" in the Subject field. > >=20 > > To search the austechwriter archives, go to > > www.freelist.org/archives/austechwriter > >=20 > > To contact the list administrator, send a message to > > austechwriter-admins@xxxxxxxxxxxxx > > ************************************************** > >=20 > > ************************************************** > > To post a message to austechwriter, send the message to > > austechwriter@xxxxxxxxxxxxxx > >=20 > > To subscribe to austechwriter, send a message to > > austechwriter-request@xxxxxxxxxxxxx with "subscribe" in the Subject = > field. > >=20 > > To unsubscribe, send a message to austechwriter-request@xxxxxxxxxxxxx = > with > > "unsubscribe" in the Subject field. > >=20 > > To search the austechwriter archives, go to > > www.freelist.org/archives/austechwriter > >=20 > > To contact the list administrator, send a message to > > austechwriter-admins@xxxxxxxxxxxxx > > ************************************************** > >=20 > > > > > > ------------------------------------------------------------ > This email was sent from Netspace Webmail: http://www.netspace.net.au > > ************************************************** > To post a message to austechwriter, send the message to = > austechwriter@xxxxxxxxxxxxxx > > To subscribe to austechwriter, send a message to = > austechwriter-request@xxxxxxxxxxxxx with "subscribe" in the Subject = > field. > > To unsubscribe, send a message to austechwriter-request@xxxxxxxxxxxxx = > with "unsubscribe" in the Subject field. > > To search the austechwriter archives, go to = > www.freelist.org/archives/austechwriter > > To contact the list administrator, send a message to = > austechwriter-admins@xxxxxxxxxxxxx > ************************************************** > ************************************************** > To post a message to austechwriter, send the message to austechwriter@xxxxxxxxxxxxxx > > To subscribe to austechwriter, send a message to austechwriter-request@xxxxxxxxxxxxx with "subscribe" in the Subject field. > > To unsubscribe, send a message to austechwriter-request@xxxxxxxxxxxxx with "unsubscribe" in the Subject field. > > To search the austechwriter archives, go to www.freelist.org/archives/austechwriter > > To contact the list administrator, send a message to austechwriter-admins@xxxxxxxxxxxxx > ************************************************** ************************************************** To post a message to austechwriter, send the message to austechwriter@xxxxxxxxxxxxxx To subscribe to austechwriter, send a message to austechwriter-request@xxxxxxxxxxxxx with "subscribe" in the Subject field. To unsubscribe, send a message to austechwriter-request@xxxxxxxxxxxxx with "unsubscribe" in the Subject field. To search the austechwriter archives, go to www.freelist.org/archives/austechwriter To contact the list administrator, send a message to austechwriter-admins@xxxxxxxxxxxxx **************************************************