I've hit my limit switch -- I need to get competent with XML (kinda quick).

Can anybody recommend a book (or, what the heck, on-line resource) that will get an old guy up to speed?

You might want to look here for a quick introduction.
http://www.w3schools.com/xml/

1 members found this post helpful.

Hi tronayne!

Learning XML covers a lot of ground!

Basic XML markup is really as simple as it looks, named tags with optional named attributes and character data. You probably already grasp the basics of that - it is really just a way of formally imposing structure onto a document.

I do not have a favorite resource for XML, but when I had to learn it formally I found the various O'Reilly books to be a good guide. Also, the W3C RFC itself is surprisingly useful (unlike some others!).

Beyond the structural aspects of XML you probably will need to learn some of the associated, but separate technologies, including XPath, XQuery, XML Schema, XSLT, etc... etc... If you already know which of these are of interest to you, or if you can better describe your target usage, I or someone else can probably provide additional information for those as well.

For quick reference I have found the PDF guides from Mulberry Tech to also be accurate, complete and useful.

1 members found this post helpful.

Hi, astrogeek,

Thanks for what really looks like some good information -- I especially like the W3C link and am looking at the Quick Reference Cards from Mullberry. Good stuff, looks like.

I was thinking O'Reilly -- just haven't got straight which would be the better bet (reading the reviews and what-not for their offerings). Never been unhappy with an O'Reilly books so far.

The application is DSpace, it's Java, it runs in Tomcat and I have to do custom data entry forms (all written in XML). It's a little daunting when first looking at it but seems to clear up when you dig in. I need to get the grammar and syntax down before I get serious (and it would be nice to know why I'm doing what I'm doing, too).

Nice reference, thanks again.

Hi, dr.s,

Nice link, thank you!

You are welcome - glad that helped.

It happens that XML forms is not an area I have worked with much, but this is probably what you are looking for: http://www.w3.org/MarkUp/Forms/#waXForms.


[EDIT]
This link found at the bottom of the above linked page looks very interesting, XForms Institute
[/EDIT].

Also, the W3C XForms RFC may be found at http://www.w3.org/TR/xforms/.

A quick search also turned up this page which might be more readable as an introduction: http://webdesign.about.com/library/weekly/aa091701a.htm


As for the O'Reilly books - I got the XML CD Bookshelf a few years ago. It provides solid, well rounded coverage from introductory level to advanced and is an accessible ready reference when needed. Not sure if a newer edition might include XForms specifically, but O'Reilly does offer a separate XForms book too, I am sure you can find it online.

You're welcome, I used and bookmarked this site a while back because of its simple and concise tutorials.