XML, the Extensible Markup Language, is a platform-independent language for describing data. The XML and related specifications, as well as the Document Object Model, have all been developed with language independence in mind. This was done to allow any programmer to use these powerful protocols and object models in their own language of choice, thus providing a huge development potential for the XML community and offering a myriad of opportunities to developers working with established technologies. ASP has long been leading technology for server-side, dynamic web applications. And XML, as the newest markup language and a standard format for the universal sharing of data, is undoubtedly set to become an intrinsic part of all major development both on the Web, and in the wider business community. The next generation of web sites will inevitably combine these technologies as e-commerce matures and developers look for more efficient ways to integrate Internet presence with business systems.
Microsoft's Active Server Pages (ASP) and the Extensible Markup Language (XML) are two of the hottest Web technologies but are usually documented individually since each is a complex topic in its own right.
Professional ASP XML ties the two together in an important way, illustrating how to utilise them both to produce next generation Web applications.
This product of a number of Wrox authors is a work that shows how and where XML fits in with ASP development, and whets the reader's appetite for creative solutions to typical data handling problems. Since the focus of the book is a step beyond the XML specification itself, the basics of XML are covered up front in a quick and practical discussion. The authors do a great job of explaining the DTD versus schema controversy, as well as the Document Object Model. Then it's on to the fun stuff: a look at how to build XSL stylesheets dynamically from a database, bind XML data locally with data islands, and construct a component that encapsulates reusable XML file operations.
The best way to really grasp the power of XML, however, is to see it in action. Fortunately, the authors devote a large portion of the book to case studies that use XML is various ways: to drive an online survey system, generate programmer documentation for DLLs, represent a shopping cart and as the glue behind a workflow application. If you're developing for the Web, sooner or later you will find XML either useful or necessary. This book should be required reading for any serious ASP developer. --Stephen W. Plain, amazon.com
Topics covered:
- XML syntax
- DTDs and schemas
- XSL and CSS
- ASP/XML integration,
- ADO/XML integration
- Client-side XML data binding
- XML procedure libraries
- Schema repositories
- SOAP
- Data transferring
- Data presentation