XSLT: mastering XML transformations

Doug Tidwell0596000537, 9780596000530

XSLT documents a core technology for processing XML. Originally created for page layout, XSLT (Extensible Stylesheet Transformations) is now much more: a general-purpose translation tool, a system for reorganizing document content, and a way to generate multiple results—such as HTML, WAP, and SVG—from the same content. What sets XSLT apart from other books on this critical tool is the depth of detail and breadth of knowledge that Doug Tidwell, a developer with years of XSLT experience, brings to his concise treatment of the many talents of XSLT. He covers XSLT and XPath, a critical companion standard, and addresses topics ranging from basic transformations to complex sorting and linking. He explores extension functions on a variety of different XSLT processors and shows ways to combine multiple documents using XSLT. Code examples add a real-world dimension to each technique. Useful as XSLT is, its peculiar characteristics make it difficult to get started in, and the ability to use advanced techniques depends on a clear and exact understanding of how XSLT templates work and interact. For instance, the understanding of “variables” in XSLT is deeply different from the understanding of “variables” in procedural languages. The author explains XSLT by building from the basics to its more complex and powerful possibilities, so that whether you’re just starting out in XSLT or looking for advanced techniques, you’ll find the level of information you need.

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Table of contents :
Table of Contents……Page 2
Description……Page 4
Preface……Page 5
1. Getting Started……Page 10
2. The Obligatory Hello World Example……Page 26
3. XPath: A Syntax for Describing Needles and Haystacks……Page 42
4. Branching and Control Elements……Page 59
5. Creating Links and Cross-References……Page 85
6. Sorting and Grouping Elements……Page 108
7. Combining XML Documents……Page 123
8. Extending XSLT……Page 136
9. Case Study: The Toot-O-Matic……Page 172
A. XSLT Reference……Page 191
B. XPath Reference……Page 280
C. XSLT and XPath Function Reference……Page 287
D. XSLT Guide……Page 371
Glossary……Page 377
Colophon……Page 387
Extending XSLT to Encrypt XML on the Fly……Page 388