an introduction to xml joint presentation to the cdpug and gcpcug web publishing sig - august 26,...

An IntroductionAn Introductionto XMLto XML

Joint Presentation to theJoint Presentation to the

CDPUG and GCPCUG Web Publishing SIG CDPUG and GCPCUG Web Publishing SIG --

August 26, 2004August 26, 2004

Copyright © 2004 by Michael Mina - [email protected] © 2004 by Michael Mina - [email protected]

Presentation OverviewPresentation Overview

What is XML?What is XML? Uses of XMLUses of XML XML in relation to other languagesXML in relation to other languages Learning basic XMLLearning basic XML Publishing with XMLPublishing with XML XML and databasesXML and databases XML ResourcesXML Resources


What is XML?What is XML?

Extensible Markup Language - born Extensible Markup Language - born 2/19982/1998

Extensible - create new markup Extensible - create new markup languageslanguages

More than HTML, less than SGMLMore than HTML, less than SGML XML family of specificationsXML family of specifications

– XML, XSL, XSLT, XSL-FO, DOM, XML XML, XSL, XSLT, XSL-FO, DOM, XML Namespaces, XLink, XPointer, XPath, XML Namespaces, XLink, XPointer, XPath, XML Schema, XML Query LanguageSchema, XML Query Language


Uses of XMLUses of XML

Data StorageData Storage Data InterchangeData Interchange Data Display/Rendering/PublishingData Display/Rendering/Publishing

All of the above are interrelatedAll of the above are interrelated All of the above are about All of the above are about datadata


Uses of XMLUses of XML Some specific examplesSome specific examples

– United Way I&R data interchange (call 211)United Way I&R data interchange (call 211)– Dreamweaver extensionsDreamweaver extensions– File management of digital photographsFile management of digital photographs– Transmit information from handheld into Transmit information from handheld into

database (e.g., U-Haul)database (e.g., U-Haul)– CSU data transformation POC modelCSU data transformation POC model

Excel Excel Access Access XML, XSL XML, XSL

– Burden shifting: database server Burden shifting: database server web web serverserver

Limited only by your imagination (?)Limited only by your imagination (?)


Uses of XML - Data StorageUses of XML - Data Storage

Data StorageData Storage– Products marketed as “XML databases”Products marketed as “XML databases”

TaminoTamino TEXTMLTEXTML

– XML-enabled databasesXML-enabled databases Oracle, SQL Server, DB2Oracle, SQL Server, DB2

note: this is not a product endorsement


Uses of XML - Data StorageUses of XML - Data Storage

When is XML Suited for Data Storage?When is XML Suited for Data Storage?– Data needs to be accessed by many Data needs to be accessed by many

systemssystems– Hierarchical dataHierarchical data– Smaller data set *Smaller data set *– Speed not criticalSpeed not critical– Simpler queries used *Simpler queries used *– Data must be stored for a long timeData must be stored for a long time

* Becoming less important over time as a consideration


Uses of XML - Data Uses of XML - Data InterchangeInterchange

Application

Application Application



Application

Many translators (bridges) vs. a common language

XML


Uses of XML - Uses of XML - Display/RenderingDisplay/Rendering

Data Display/RenderingData Display/Rendering– Present the same content differently for Present the same content differently for

different devicesdifferent devices

Before XML . . .Before XML . . .– Either support older standard only (e.g., Either support older standard only (e.g.,

HTML 3.2)HTML 3.2)– Or develop multiple sets of pages and Or develop multiple sets of pages and

redirect user based on their browserredirect user based on their browser



With XML . . .With XML . . .– One set of XML documentsOne set of XML documents– One XSL document for each One XSL document for each

browser/devicebrowser/device– If a new device or new use for existing If a new device or new use for existing

device emerges…device emerges… develop new standard protocol (e.g., WAP)develop new standard protocol (e.g., WAP) develop another XSL documentdevelop another XSL document



Then eitherThen either– serve XML and XSL to clientserve XML and XSL to client

OrOr– transform XML with XSL at servertransform XML with XSL at server– serve appropriate markup to clientserve appropriate markup to client


Uses of XML - PublishingUses of XML - Publishing

XMetaLDocumentum

Platform

Repurposing of content

HTML


content authoring

tool

content storage

management

PDF

MS Word

content

WAP


Uses of XML - PublishingUses of XML - Publishing

In 2002, the USAF AWACS technical documentation was converted to XML

Photo from http://www.nato.int


Uses of XML - burden shiftingUses of XML - burden shifting

clientweb server database server

clientweb server database server

XML

Reduce the burden on a database server


Why is XML needed?Why is XML needed?

Consider HTMLConsider HTML

– HyperText Markup LanguageHyperText Markup Language

– Based on SGMLBased on SGML

– Most web pages use HTMLMost web pages use HTML



Advantages of HTMLAdvantages of HTML– Easy to learn compared to most Easy to learn compared to most

programming languagesprogramming languages Readily available authoring tools (even a Readily available authoring tools (even a

text file editor)text file editor) Readily available rendering toolReadily available rendering tool

Browsers are free, all new PCs have browsers Browsers are free, all new PCs have browsers installedinstalled



Disadvantages of HTMLDisadvantages of HTML– Deviation from its original purpose Deviation from its original purpose

Presentation should be based on a styling Presentation should be based on a styling languagelanguage

– Lack of extensibilityLack of extensibility– Toleration of faulty codeToleration of faulty code

acceptable for web page designacceptable for web page design unacceptable for transmission of dataunacceptable for transmission of data



Consider SGMLConsider SGML

– Standard Generalized Markup LanguageStandard Generalized Markup Language No toleration of faulty codeNo toleration of faulty code Completely extensibleCompletely extensible

– HTML, XML based on SGMLHTML, XML based on SGML



The advantages of SGML are actually The advantages of SGML are actually disadvantages in the web environmentdisadvantages in the web environment

Complete extensibility of SGML meansComplete extensibility of SGML means– It is not cost-effective to develop browsers It is not cost-effective to develop browsers

to support SGMLto support SGML– Potentially huge bandwidth and storage Potentially huge bandwidth and storage

issuesissues



XML allows the use of metadata - “data XML allows the use of metadata - “data about data”about data”

HTML tagsHTML tags– <p>The Gettysburg Address was written <p>The Gettysburg Address was written

by Abraham Lincoln</p>by Abraham Lincoln</p> XML elementsXML elements

– <document>The Gettysburg Address <document>The Gettysburg Address </document> was written by </document> was written by <president><author>Abraham <president><author>Abraham Lincoln</author></president>Lincoln</author></president>


SGML, XML, HTMLSGML, XML, HTML

XML and HTML are subsets of SGML XHTML is HTML rewritten as an XML-based language

SGML

HTMLXML

XHTML


XML-based languagesXML-based languages

XML extensibility has led toXML extensibility has led to– Extensible Business Reporting Language (XBRL) Extensible Business Reporting Language (XBRL) – Security Assertion Markup Language (SAML)Security Assertion Markup Language (SAML)– Predictive Model Markup Language (PMML)Predictive Model Markup Language (PMML)– CellMLCellML

““to store and exchange computer-based biological models.”to store and exchange computer-based biological models.”

– HR-XML consortiumHR-XML consortium ““. . . an independent, non-profit organization dedicated to the . . . an independent, non-profit organization dedicated to the

development and promotion of a standard suite of XML development and promotion of a standard suite of XML specifications to enable e-business and the automation of specifications to enable e-business and the automation of human resources-related data exchanges.”human resources-related data exchanges.”

– Many othersMany others


Basic XMLBasic XML

<?xml version="1.0"?><CONTACTS> <DATABASE USERTYPE="PERSONAL">Contact List</DATABASE> <ENTRY NUMBER="1"> <NAME> <LAST_NAME>Sanford</LAST_NAME> <FIRST_NAME>Bill</FIRST_NAME> </NAME> <TITLE>VP, Controller</TITLE> <COMPANY>SDC, Inc.</COMPANY> <WEBSITE>www.sdcinc.biz</WEBSITE> <ADDRESS>4132 Homestead Rd.</ADDRESS> <CITY>Parma</CITY> <STATE>OH</STATE> <ZIP>44134</ZIP> <PHONE> <DIRECT>440-398-2098</DIRECT> <CELLULAR>440-123-4567</CELLULAR> </PHONE> <EMAIL>[email protected]</EMAIL> </ENTRY></CONTACTS>

XML Markup includes:

• XML declaration

• Root Element

• Elements

• Attributes

• Entities


XHTMLXHTML

Next-generation of HTMLNext-generation of HTML HTML specification rewritten to be XML HTML specification rewritten to be XML

compliantcompliant XML is XML is notnot going to replace HTML, XHTML going to replace HTML, XHTML

isis Differences between HTML, XHTML Differences between HTML, XHTML

include:include:– lower case tags requiredlower case tags required– proper nesting and closure of tagsproper nesting and closure of tags– quoting attributesquoting attributes


ParsersParsers

A parser is a program that processes A parser is a program that processes an XML document. an XML document.

IE includes a parser that allows the IE includes a parser that allows the rendering of XML documents. rendering of XML documents.

Parsers are either validating or non-Parsers are either validating or non-validating. validating.


Well-formednessWell-formedness

An XML document is An XML document is well-formedwell-formed if if– attribute values are in quotesattribute values are in quotes– tags are properly nestedtags are properly nested– start and end tags are the same casestart and end tags are the same case– there is one root elementthere is one root element– empty elements must be formatted empty elements must be formatted

properlyproperly

If it’s not well-formed, it’s not XMLIf it’s not well-formed, it’s not XML


Document Type Definition Document Type Definition (DTD)(DTD)

Used to specify how elements, Used to specify how elements, attributes, etc. relate to each otherattributes, etc. relate to each other

DTDs are DTDs are notnot XML documents, but are XML documents, but are used by themused by them

DTDs do not support data typingDTDs do not support data typing XML Schema was developed in part to XML Schema was developed in part to

address lack of data typing in DTDsaddress lack of data typing in DTDs XML Schemas are also XML documentsXML Schemas are also XML documents


Document Type Definition Document Type Definition (DTD)(DTD)

<!ELEMENT CONTACTS (DATABASE, ENTRY+)><!ELEMENT DATABASE (#PCDATA)><!ATTLIST DATABASE USERTYPE (PERSONAL|CORPORATE) "PERSONAL"><!ELEMENT ENTRY (NAME, TITLE, COMPANY, WEBSITE?, ADDRESS, CITY, STATE, ZIP, PHONE, PAGER?, FAX?, EMAIL?)><!ATTLIST ENTRY NUMBER CDATA #IMPLIED><!ELEMENT NAME (LAST_NAME, FIRST_NAME)><!ELEMENT LAST_NAME (#PCDATA)><!ELEMENT FIRST_NAME (#PCDATA)><!ELEMENT TITLE (#PCDATA)><!ELEMENT COMPANY (#PCDATA)><!ELEMENT WEBSITE (#PCDATA)><!ELEMENT ADDRESS (#PCDATA)><!ELEMENT CITY (#PCDATA)><!ELEMENT STATE (#PCDATA)><!ELEMENT ZIP (#PCDATA)><!ELEMENT PHONE (OFFICE?, DIRECT?, CELLULAR?)>. . .ETC.


Validating XMLValidating XML

An XML document that conforms to its An XML document that conforms to its DTD is DTD is validvalid

Validating parsersValidating parsers– IBM's XML4J ParserIBM's XML4J Parser– IBM's DOMit: A servlet for XML validationIBM's DOMit: A servlet for XML validation– IE itself, modified by installing a download IE itself, modified by installing a download

from http://msdn.microsoft.com from http://msdn.microsoft.com (iexmltls.exe)(iexmltls.exe)



http://tinyurl.com/3bh3t



http://tinyurl.com/3f5fp


XSLXSL

Extensible Stylesheet LanguageExtensible Stylesheet Language

Three specificationsThree specifications– XSL Transformations (XSLT)XSL Transformations (XSLT)– XSL Formatting Objects (XSL-FO)XSL Formatting Objects (XSL-FO)– XPath XPath

Previously separate, recently incorporated into Previously separate, recently incorporated into XSLXSL


XSLTXSLT

Transforms XML into other markup Transforms XML into other markup languageslanguages

Often used to transform XML to HTMLOften used to transform XML to HTML Limited query-like functionalityLimited query-like functionality XSL documents are also XML XSL documents are also XML

documentsdocuments

An XSL DocumentAn XSL Document

<?xml version="1.0" ?><xsl:stylesheet xmlns:xsl="http://www.w3.org/TR/WD-xsl"><xsl:template match="/"><html> <head> <title> <xsl:value-of select="CONTACTS/DATABASE" /> </title> </head><body style="background-color: DDDDDD;"> <h2 align="center"> <xsl:value-of select="CONTACTS/DATABASE" /> <hr /> </h2> <xsl:for-each select="CONTACTS/ENTRY[COMPANY='SDC, Inc.']" order-by ="NAME/LAST_NAME"> <table align="center" width="400" style="font-family: sans-serif; font-size: 10pt; background-color: EEEEEE;"> <tr> <td width="200"><b> <xsl:value-of select="NAME/FIRST_NAME" />

SELECT

WHERE

ORDER BY

XSLT Query-like

functionality:

An XSL DocumentAn XSL Document

<?xml version="1.0" ?><xsl:stylesheet xmlns:xsl="http://www.w3.org/TR/WD-xsl"><xsl:template match="/"><html> <head> <title> <xsl:value-of select="CONTACTS/DATABASE" /> </title> </head><body style="background-color: DDDDDD;"> <h2 align="center"> <xsl:value-of select="CONTACTS/DATABASE" /> <hr /> </h2> <xsl:for-each select="CONTACTS/ENTRY[COMPANY='SDC, Inc.']" order-by ="NAME/LAST_NAME"> <table align="center" width="400" style="font-family: sans-serif; font-size: 10pt; background-color: EEEEEE;"> <tr> <td width="200"><b> <xsl:value-of select="NAME/FIRST_NAME" />

XSLT

XPath

HTML

CSS

Other functionality:


XML, XSL and JavaScriptXML, XSL and JavaScript

<html><head><title>Test XML Page</title></head><body><script language = "JavaScript">

var xmlObject = new ActiveXObject("microsoft.xmldom")xmlObject.async = falsexmlObject.load("contacts.xml")

var xslObject = new ActiveXObject("microsoft.xmldom")xslObject.async = falsexslObject.load("contacts.xsl")

document.write(xmlObject.transformNode(xslObject))

</script></body></html>


XML, XSL and JavaScriptXML, XSL and JavaScript

See demoSee demo


XSL - Formatting ObjectsXSL - Formatting Objects

Adobe InDesignAdobe InDesign

See other informationSee other information


XML and DatabasesXML and Databases

Microsoft SQL ServerMicrosoft SQL Server

Oracle products (various)Oracle products (various)

IBM DB2 UDBIBM DB2 UDB


Microsoft SQL ServerMicrosoft SQL Server SQL can retrieve results in XML formatSQL can retrieve results in XML format Three XML modes: Raw, Auto, ExplicitThree XML modes: Raw, Auto, Explicit Raw mode - result row tagged <row>Raw mode - result row tagged <row> Auto mode - more control over tagsAuto mode - more control over tags Explicit modeExplicit mode

– Default tags - table names, field namesDefault tags - table names, field names– Overwrite by specifying DTD with queryOverwrite by specifying DTD with query– Specify shape of the XML tree Specify shape of the XML tree – Requires relatively complex SQL queriesRequires relatively complex SQL queries


Oracle ProductsOracle Products

Oracle 8i was billed as “the world’s Oracle 8i was billed as “the world’s first XML-enabled database”first XML-enabled database”

Oracle Reports 6iOracle Reports 6i– Reports can be stored as XSLReports can be stored as XSL



DB2 XML ExtenderDB2 XML Extender– facility to enable DB2 to work with XMLfacility to enable DB2 to work with XML

Net.DataNet.Data– macro language for DB2 UDBmacro language for DB2 UDB



DB2 XML ExtenderDB2 XML Extender

– Repository for XML and DTDsRepository for XML and DTDs

– Storage methodsStorage methods XML columnXML column XML collectionXML collection



XML columnXML column– Entire XML document stored in one Entire XML document stored in one

column as an XML UDTcolumn as an XML UDT– Data Access Definition (DAD) defines Data Access Definition (DAD) defines

indexes based on elements and attributesindexes based on elements and attributes XML collectionXML collection

– Relational tables mapped to/from XMLRelational tables mapped to/from XML– DAD maps DTD to tables and columnsDAD maps DTD to tables and columns



DB2 XML Extender also allowsDB2 XML Extender also allows

– SQL to query XML based on elements and SQL to query XML based on elements and attributesattributes

– Stored procedures to generate XML from Stored procedures to generate XML from DB2DB2



Net.DataNet.Data

– Allows conversion of SQL results to XMLAllows conversion of SQL results to XML

– Is not restricted to DB2 UDB as a data Is not restricted to DB2 UDB as a data sourcesource


XML and Query LanguagesXML and Query Languages XPathXPath

– not based on XMLnot based on XML– limited functionalitylimited functionality– relatively difficult to understandrelatively difficult to understand

XSLTXSLT– based on XMLbased on XML– works with XPath, XSL-FO, HTML, CSSworks with XPath, XSL-FO, HTML, CSS– also has limited functionalityalso has limited functionality


XML and Query LanguagesXML and Query Languages

Per the W3C website:

“The mission of the XML Query project is to provide flexible query facilities to extract data from real and virtual documents on the World Wide Web, therefore finally providing the needed interaction between the Web world and the database world. Ultimately, collections of XML files will be accessed like databases.” (emphasis added)


XML Editors - a samplingXML Editors - a sampling

Microsoft - XML NotepadMicrosoft - XML Notepad Wattle Software - XMLWriterWattle Software - XMLWriter Sonic Software - Stylus StudioSonic Software - Stylus Studio Altova - XML SpyAltova - XML Spy



XML Editors - XML NotepadXML Editors - XML Notepad


XML Servers/DatabasesXML Servers/Databases

IxiaSoft - TEXTML ServerIxiaSoft - TEXTML Server– http://www.ixiasoft.comhttp://www.ixiasoft.com

Software AG - Tamino XML ServerSoftware AG - Tamino XML Server– http://www.tamino.comhttp://www.tamino.com

Ipedo - Ipedo XML Intelligence PlatformIpedo - Ipedo XML Intelligence Platform– http://www.ipedo.comhttp://www.ipedo.com



XML ResourcesXML Resources

World Wide Web ConsortiumWorld Wide Web Consortium– http://www.w3.orghttp://www.w3.org

The XML Industry PortalThe XML Industry Portal– http://www.xml.orghttp://www.xml.org

XML101.comXML101.com– http://www.xml101.comhttp://www.xml101.com

W3 SchoolsW3 Schools– http://www.w3schools.comhttp://www.w3schools.com


<closing><closing>Thank You For AttendingThank You For Attending

</closing></closing>

Michael MinaMichael [email protected]@aol.com

an introduction to xml joint presentation to the cdpug and gcpcug web publishing sig - august 26,...

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