Escolar Documentos
Profissional Documentos
Cultura Documentos
(and managers)
Mark Pascall
Technical Architect
Overview
What is XML?
Extensible Markup
Language
Many pieces in the XML
Xlink XPointer
puzzle HTM
L
Very fast moving XSLT XML XML
Schem
First – back to basics…. a
XQuery Name
SOA
P space
How the Internet works….
OK here it is
Web Clients
(Browser) Web Server
Hypertext Mark-up Language
<h1>Here is the title</h1>
<p>This is a piece of <b>Text</b> </p>
A formatting language
Browser knows how to interpret the tags.
What is Extensible Markup
Language?
NOT a markup language
Meta-markup Language
Set of very simple rules
XML provides a uniform method for
describing and exchanging structured data
Describes structure and semantics, not
formatting
Meta Language
XML
HTTP
TCP/IP
XML Markup
languages/vocabularies
Remember XML is a meta-language
Anybody can create their own language
Why would you want to?
Each language designed for a specific
purpose….
Mathematical Markup Language
(MathML)
x2 + 4x + 4 =0
<apply><plus/>
<apply><power/>
<ci>x</ci>
<cn>2</cn>
</apply>
<apply> <times/>
<cn>4</cn>
<ci>x</ci>
</apply>
<cn>4</cn>
</apply>
Synchronized Multimedia
Integration Language (SMIL)
<DIV CLASS=“time” t:timeline=“seq”>
<P class=“time” t:dur=“1”>
This appears for one second and goes away
</P>
<P class=“time” t:dur=“1”>
This appears after one second, remains visible for one second and
goes away
</P>
<P class=“time” t:dur=“1”>
This appears after two seconds, remains visible for one second and
goes away
</P>
</DIV>
Vector Markup Language
<h1>The Title</h1>
<p>This is a piece of <b>HTML </b> </p>
Or is it??
Next version of HTML = XHTML
XML Schemas and DTDs
XML is about communication
Need to speak the same language
Schemas/DTDs describe the vocabulary
of the language
i.e. what tags are used and how they can
be organised
Schemas will replace DTDs
An Example Schema
<?xml version="1.0" encoding="UTF-8"?>
<PressRelease>
<Title>Studend Loan Problems</Title>
<Date>20/7/01</Date>
<Content>Bla Bla Bla</Content>
</PressRelease>
XSLT
document
Text
XML
Summary
The XML Specification = Meta-language for
describing XML Mark-up languages
XML Schemas (and DTD’s) describe the
structure of a particular XML Mark-up
language
XSL-T documents transform XML document
into another format (HTML, XML etc)
XML in Action – a case study
Agenda
Case study background
Choosing a DTD/Schema
Creating XML – the options
Storing XML – the options
Presenting XML – the options
Solution Benefits
Demo
Case study background
October 2001 – won contract to redevelop E-government
website (www.e-government.govt.nz)
Business requirements
– Usual stuff (accessible, usable etc)
– Guidelines compliant (squeaky clean)
“Content must be made available in a standard HTML format.
Where information is provided in a proprietary format an
alternative HTML version must also be made available.”
Can’t just put it up as a PDF anymore
– Simple publishing process
– Future-proofed
Constraints
– Limited budget
– Tight timeframe
Traditional options
Static site
– Did not give simple publishing process for
“unskilled” people
Content Management System
– Store information in RDBMS
– Not good for “document centric” applications
– Cost, timeframe, simple workflow
requirements
The challenge
– To create a system that allows non-technical
authors to publish to guidelines compliant
HTML (and eventually other formats)
The solution
– XML
Choosing a DTD/Schema
Make up your own
Don’t reinvent the wheel!
Xml.org
We selected a subset of DocBook
– Could handle all the information we needed to
store
– Supported by a growing number of products
NZETC uses TEI
Creating XML – the Options
Use an XML editor
– E.g. XML Spy, Xmetal, Framemaker etc
– Allow you to create a document that conforms
to a specified DTD/Schema
– Problem: everybody potentially an author
Convert Word documents to XML
– Styles
XSL-T for
convertion
HTML
(Internet)
Word DocBook
(using Styles) XML eBook
Word is
authoritative
source Anything you want!!
Xcon Demo
Storing XML – the Options
Relational database
Native XML Repository
– E.g. Excelon, Tamino, Ipedo, Xindice
– First generation products
– At the time too immature/expensive
On the file system
Presenting XML – the Options
Publishing to humans
Need to “transform” XML to a format appropriate
for humans
Physical print – out of scope
HTML obvious choice
XSL-T to transform XML to HTML
Not the only way to present to humans
– SMIL, SVG, MathML etc
– Audience must have software
What about publishing “Raw” XML?
Organisation A Organisation B Organisation C
Website Website Website
HTML
document
Demo