Advanced XML: XSLT Course

This course introduces the XSLT language (eXtensible Stylesheet Language Transformations). The XSLT specification is maintained by the W3C (World Wide Web Consortium) and is a core part of the growing family of XML technologies. A related XML technology is the XPath language, which is required for using XSLT stylesheets. Students in this course will therefore learn the basic elements of the XSLT language, as well as the syntax of XPath.

This course was designed for the student who is familiar with the general concepts involved in XML. Students should have a solid grounding in HTML. Some knowledge of basic programming concepts and/or experience with Web scripting (VBScript or JavaScript) would be helpful. Prior to taking this course, students should have knowledge to the level of the following PTR courses:

HTML Web Authoring
Dynamic HTML
XML Introduction
Introduction to Programming

Topics covered on the 3 day Advanced XML: XSLT course

Introduction to XML Output

• What is a Stylesheet?
• Viewing XML Formatted with Various Stylesheets
• Exploring an XSLT Stylesheet
• Exploring the Differences in XSLT Versions

Basic XSLT Templates

• XSLT Basics
• Creating the Outline Foundation of an XSLT Stylesheet
• XPath Practice
• Outputting Element Content
• Outputting Attribute Values
• Using HTML with XSLT
• Formatting XSLT Output With HTML
• Using a Simplified Stylesheet
• Output Other Than HTML
• Transforming XML to XML

Basic XSLT Templates, Part 2

• The Nature of XSLT Templates
• Using <xsl:apply-templates> To Control Processing Flow
• Comparing <xsl:apply-templates> and <xsl:call-template>
• Sorting Elements in <xsl:for-each> and <xsl:apply-templates>Contexts
• Elements, Attributes, Comments, and Text
• Using <xsl:element> Elements
• Using <xsl:attribute> Elements
• Exploring the uses of XSLT Comments and Text

XSLT Conditional Elements

• If/Then Conditionals
• Using the <xsl:if> Element
• Testing Multiple Conditions
• Using <xsl:choose> Elements
• Using <xsl:for-each> as a Conditional
• Filtering and Order Control with <xsl:for-each>

Advanced XSLT Elements, Part 1

• The Structure of XSLT Stylesheets Reconsidered
• Importing and Including Stylesheets
• Variables and Parameters

Advanced XSLT Elements, Part 2

• Output Options
• Copying XML Directly to the Output Tree
• Using Other Advanced XSLT Elements

The Built-in XSLT Functions

• General Purpose Functions
• The document() Function

XPath Axes and Location Paths

• The Current Context Reconsidered
• XPath Axes and Unabbreviated XPath Syntax

Server-Side XSLT Programming with ASP, XML DOM, and ADO

• Using XSLT with ASP and the XML DOM
• Transforming XML Obtained from a Database

Data Islands and SVG Output

• Using XML Data Islands with XSLT
• Converting XML Documents into SVG Graphics

Appendix A: XSLT Syntax

• XSLT Elements
• XSLT Functions

Appendix B: XPath

• XPath Syntax
• XPath Axes
• XPath Functions

Appendix C: Setting up a System DSN

Appendix D: XML to WML