XML Markup and Core Concepts  

This chapter focuses on the details of XML markup. It will describe the fundamental building blocks of all XML-derived languages: elements, attributes, entities, processing instructions, and more. And I'll show you how they all fit together to make a well-formed XML document. Mastering these concepts is essential to understanding every other topic in the book, so read this chapter carefully.

Ray, Erik T. O'Reilly and Associates (2003). Design>Information Design>XML

The XML Obstacle Course  

Wiles examines the challenges of implementing Extensible Markup Language (XML).

Wiles, Debbie. Intercom (2002). Design>Information Design>XML

XML: One Input, Many Outputs  

Hillesund (2002) argues that XML does not and cannot fulfil the often touted benefit that it allows authors and publishers to create documents that can be effectively presented in a variety of formats; that the 'doctrine of 'one input â*” many outputs' ... is basically wrong.' This Letter defends the position that XML is an effective technology, in fact the most effective technology in widespread use, for producing multiple output formats from a single input document.

Walsh, Norman. Journal of Digital Information (2003). Articles>Web Design>XML

XML Paper Specification (XPS) of a Word 2003 Document

Microsoft breathed new life into legacy office documents by opening an XML window (Office Open XML) to its office products through its royalty-free XPS specification. XPS stands for XML Paper Specification that specifies cross-platform, open standard, document representation that can be used for generating, sharing, printing and archiving of paginated documents. Its virtues in Microsoft's own words are, "With XPS, documents print better, can be shared easier, be archived with confidence, and are more secure."

Krishnaswamy, Jayaram. ASPAlliance (2007). Articles>Document Design>Microsoft Office>XML

Review: XML Pocket Consultant  

XML Pocket Consultant is the latest in Microsoft Press's Pocket Consultant series. Other books in the series include guides to server administration developed for IT professionals. Stanek explains in his introduction that XML pocket consultant is aimed at a wider audience, namely 'developers creating XML-based solutions, administrators who support XML-based solutions and technologists working with XML.'

Jungwirth, Barbara. Technical Communication Online (2003). Articles>Reviews>XML

XML Repositories: An Idea Whose Time has Finally Come

This white paper discusses the role of an XML repository into today’s enterprise infrastructure. Virtually every database and repository provide some degree of XML support; however, there are important distinctions between support for XML as a data type and the role of a repository whose architecture and operations are optimized to support the broad family of XML recommendations and standards. Specifically, this white paper will explore: The nature and extent of XML use across the enterprise, cost and quality of service implications of an infrastructure with, and without, an XML repository, the evolution of XML repositories from both a technology and a market segment perspective, criteria to determine when an XML repository would add significant value to an existing infrastructure, and capability and packaging recommendations for XML repository functionality that can be used to evaluate specific offerings.

Holst, Sebastian. Gilbane Report (2004). Articles>Content Management>Information Design>XML

XML Schema Tutorial

In our Schema tutorial, you will learn what an XML Schema is, how XML Schema will replace DTD, and how to use the XML Schema language in your applications.

W3Schools. Articles>Documentation>Tutorials>XML

XML Solves Tech Publishing Problems

If you are a technical writer or manager of a documentation group you have probably encountered or been faced with solving problems like: single-sourcing, collaborative authoring, cross-platform editing, multi-channel publishing, improving information quality and consistency, enhancing functionality of electronic output, negating technology lock-in, and even reducing costs without reducing team head count. This article explores how the use of XML technologies within your authoring system can help you achieve each of these objectives.

InWords TechDoc Solutions (2003). Articles>Content Management>XML

Review: XML Step by Step  

It is easy to see why the first edition of Michael Young's book won the top award, 'Distinguished Technical Communication,' in the 2000–-2001 International Technical Publications Competition. Young has taken the complex subject of Extensible Markup Language (XML) and written about it in such a way as to make learning about XML an enjoyable experience.

Lunemann, Rhonda S. Technical Communication Online (2002). Articles>Reviews>XML

XML Structures for Existing Databases

Relational databases are a mature technology, which, as they have evolved, have enabled users to model complex relationships between data that they need to store. In this chapter, we will see how to model some of the complex data structures that are stored in relational databases in XML documents. To do this, we will be looking at some database structures, and then creating content models using XML DTDs. We will also show some sample content for the data in XML to illustrate this. In the process, we will come up with a set of guidelines that will prove helpful when creating XML models for relational data.

Williams, Kevin, Michael Brundage, Patrick Dengler, Jeff Gabriel, Andy Hoskinson, Michael Kay, Thomas Maxwell, Marcelo Ochoa, Johnny Papa and Mohan Vanman. VBXML (2002). Design>Information Design>XML>Web Design

XML: Structuring Data for the Web: An Introduction

This XML introduction is geared toward newcomers who have heard the buzz, but don't know what all the fuss is about. The article briefly surveys a number of new Web technologies such as XLL, XSL, RDF, DOM, MathML, SMIL, PGML, and how they relate to XML. Benefits of XML are stressed, as are potential applications in diverse fields. A reference section provides links to key XML resources, as well as to collections of other introductory articles.

Sall, Ken. Intranet Journal (2002). Design>Web Design>XML

XML Syndication Set to Explode - Are You Ready For Big Change?

Since version 1.0 of XML was released by the W3C in early 1998, its use has been growing by leaps and bounds. Content managers and software packages were early adopters and enterprises are increasingly implementing XML-based systems. A number of events are now converging which will make available an unprecedented number of XML documents on the internet. The implications are numerous and will have trendendous impact on many of the fundamental dynamics of the Internet as we know it today.

Ismail, Salim. Rockley Bulletin (2006). Articles>Content Management>XML

XML Terminology

XML is 'extensible markup language' and SGML is 'standard generalized markup language' is somewhat 'related' to XML and HTML.

Bright Path Solutions (2006). Resources>Information Design>XML

XML: The Answer to Everything?

This article weighs the pros and cons of XML for some applications (publishing), and explores why it is the best possible solution for many programming and publishing needs.

Ethier, Kay and Scott Abel. Free Software Magazine (2005). Articles>Information Design>XML

XML: the Future of Windows Help?

For a long time we've been told that XML Help is the future. So is it? In this article, David Rose examines the current state of the online help development industry and the direction it is heading.

Rose, David. Armada Online (2005). Articles>Documentation>Help>XML

XML Tips

Extensible Markup Language, or XML, is currently the most promising language for storing and exchanging information on the World Wide Web. Although Hypertext Markup Language (HTML) is presently the most common language used to create Web pages, HTML has a limited capacity for storing information. In contrast, because XML allows you to create your own elements, attributes, and document structure, you can use it to describe virtually any kind of information—from a simple recipe to a complex database. And an XML document—in conjunction with a style sheet or a conventional HTML page—can be easily displayed in a Web browser.

Young, Michael J. mjy Online. Design>Web Design>Standards>XML

XML Topic Maps By the Book

Topic Maps provide a system for organizing information, and XML Topic Maps bring this system to the world of XML. In this article, Uche Ogbuji examines XML Topic Maps, introducing the technology in the course of reviewing a key book on the topic.

Ogbuji, Uche. IBM (2003). Design>Web Design>Information Design>XML

XML Topic Maps (XTM) 1.0

This specification provides a model and grammar for representing the structure of information resources used to define topics, and the associations (relationships) between topics. Names, resources, and relationships are said to be characteristics of abstract subjects, which are called topics. Topics have their characteristics within scopes: i.e. the limited contexts within which the names and resources are regarded as their name, resource, and relationship characteristics. One or more interrelated documents employing this grammar is called a 'topic map.'

TopicMaps (2001). Resources>Information Design>XML>Sitemaps

XML Transformations with CSS and DOM

Mozilla permits XML to be rendered in the browser with CSS, and manipulated with the DOM. This is a real boon to those of us eager to experiment with XML transformations (both visual and structural) without having to delve into unfamiliar technologies such as XPath, the verbose traversal language of XSLT. If you’re already familiar with CSS and DOM, you’re more than halfway to achieving XML transformations in Mozilla.

Apple Inc. (2006). Design>Web Design>XML>CSS

XML Tricks for C#

In this article, gain knowledge about the difference between elements and attributes in XML, as well as differences in character sets. The author shows the benefits and drawbacks of using XML components and why you should carefully consider your character set when developing your software.

Youssef, Michael. ASP Free (2004). Articles>Information Design>XML>ASP

XML Tutorial

XML is a new type of language which has been developed for the web which is different to any other type of scripting or programming language available before. Instead of being concerned with the processing and display of data, XML's primary purpose is to tell the computer what data entered actually means.

Gowans, David. Free Webmaster Help (2001). Design>Information Design>XML

XML Tutorial

In this XML tutorial you will learn what XML is and the difference between XML and HTML. You will also learn how to start using XML in your applications.

W3Schools. Articles>Information Design>XML

An XML Tutorial for Everyone

So, your company has decided to implement XML. You are tasked with figuring out exactly how, when, and why. For starters, you should find out what XML is and what you can do with it. This tutorial serves to explain the basics of XML documents. Once you understand what they are, it can help you know the how, when, and why. XML fits into a lot of places. It can replace, or work with, other technologies. It can be used instead of, or to supplement, scripts. It can work with databases, or on its own to store readable content. Before you dive into what XML might do, it can help if you learn a little more about it.

Bright Path Solutions (2005). Articles>Information Design>XML

XML-Based Documentation Using AurigaDoc

A review of an XML-based documentation tool.

Nesbitt, Scott. NewsForge. Articles>Documentation>Software>XML