XSLT: Working with XML and HTML

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XSLT: Working with XML and HTML

ExtensibleStylesheet Language Transformation (XSLT) is quickly becoming a hot computingtopic, garnering the same spike of enthusiasm as other popular computingparadigms. It is with good reason, because the promise of manipulating a singlesource of XML data into multiple output formats sounds a lot like the elusivewrite once, read anywhere mantra that other technologies have advertised.

Khun YeeFung has written a straightforward, well-paced introductory text about theXML-based syntax. XSLT appears to target an academic audience, becauseit presents a dry, textbook-like progression of the concepts. The most valuableportion of the book is Part III, "Idioms and Tips," because it provides theauthor's real-world lessons from working on more than 50 XSLT-related projects.The HTML, XSLT, and XML code examples are printed in their entirety, and areincluded on the accompanying CD-ROM.

Thatsaid, the book does have problems. It's not written for application developers,and its paltry three-page appendix on XSLT tools and Web resources shows itsage. The chapter on using Formatting Objects and Scalable Vector Graphics istoo brief to be useful, and omits which libraries and parsers should be used totransform the data after it's been formatted. Fung occasionally abdicates hisresponsibility to further describe XSLT-related issues by stating he wouldleave such explorations to other books. Clearly, Mr. Fung's objectives weremerely to present XSLT syntax, simple examples, and a basic case study usingthese introductory contexts.

XSLT provides a fair introduction tothe subject, but developers seeking help with application-centric requirementsneed to look elsewhere.

- Mike Riley

XSLT: Working with XML and HTML by Khun Yee Fung, Addison-Wesley, http://www.awl.com/cseng.

Rating:

ISBN:0-201-71103-6

CoverPrice: US$39.95

(464pages, CD-ROM)