Class overview :

Class goals :

• Transform XML data using Extensible Stylesheet Language (XSL)
• Search and filter XML documents with XPath
• Build structured stylesheets with Extensible Stylesheet Language Transformation (XSLT) elements
• Design and debug XSL documents
• Publish PDF documents using XSL Formatting Objects (XSL-FO)
• Convert XML data into HTML and other document formats

Content of Transforming and Styling XML

Introducing XSL

XSL recommendations

• XML Path Language (XPath)
• XSL Transformations (XSLT)
• Formatting Objects (XSL-FO)
• Fundamental XSL concepts

XSL applications

• Developing XSL
• Applying a stylesheet
• Utilizing XSL in production

Leveraging XPath Expressions

Analyzing the key components of XPath

• Writing primary expressions
• Constructing sequences
• Evaluating the context item

Selecting content with path expressions

• Navigating with Axis points
• Choosing targets with node tests
• Filtering results by predicates

Comparing nodes in XPath

• Value and general comparisons
• Arithmetic expressions
• Invoking functions

Building Stylesheets with XSLT

XSLT stylesheet fundamentals

• Source and result trees
• Template-driven approach
• Transforming XML-to-XML

Creating an XSLT stylesheet

• Following best practices
• Defining template rules
• Applying templates
• Extracting data values
• Implementing templates out-of-order
• Copying input nodes

Designing XSLT stylesheets effectively

• Leveraging built-in rules
• Resolving conflicts
• Referencing the changing context

Publishing Reports with XSL-FO

XSL Formatting Objects

• XSL-FO Formatters
• XSL-FO Editors/Designers
• Relationship to DSSSL and CSS

Building the XSL-FO document

• Defining layout master sets
• Creating page masters
• Specifying regions

Transforming XML to XSL-FO

• Designing a report stylesheet
• Constructing page sequences
• Repeating headers and footers

Optimizing Stylesheets with XPath

Leveraging intricate expressions

• Specifying complex axes
• Comparing nodes and kinds
• Creating ranges and filters

Harnessing the power of XPath

• Referencing variables
• Looping and conditions
• Working with sequences
• Exploring built-in functions
• Merging data sources

Achieving Complex Transformations

Maximizing template effectiveness

• Defining variables
• Passing parameters

Incorporating XSLT elements

• Generating new content
• Transforming XML-to-HTML
• Extending XSL with custom functions
• Including language extensions

Producing Professional Documents from XML Data

Embedding content

• Employing external images and links
• Incorporating dynamic page numbering

Applying advanced formatting techniques

• Creating lists and tables
• Alternating page layouts