Learning Xslt

Summary

XSLT is a powerful language for transforming XML documents into something else. That something else can be an HTML document, another XML document, a Portable Document Format (PDF) file, a Scalable Vector Graphics (SVG) file, a Virtual Reality Modeling Language (VRML) file, Java code, or a number of other things. You write an XSLT stylesheet to define the rules for transforming an XML document, and the XSLT processor does the work.

As useful as XSLT is, its peculiar characteristics make it a difficult language in which to get started. In fact, newcomers are often a little dazed on first contact. Learning XSLT offers a hands-on introduction to help them get up to speed with XSLT quickly. The book will help web developers and designers understand this powerful but often mystifying template-driven and functional-styled language, getting them over the many differences between XSLT and the more conventional programming languages.

Learning XSLT moves smoothly from the simple to complex, illustrating all aspects of XSLT 1.0 through step-by-step examples that you'll practice as you work through the book. Thorough in its coverage of the language, the book makes few assumptions about what you may already know. You'll learn about XSLT's template-based syntax, how XSLT templates work with each other, and gain an understanding of XSLT variables. Learning XSLT also explains how the XML Path Language (XPath) is used by XSLT and provides a glimpse of what the future holds for XSLT 2.0 and XPath 2.0.

The ability to transform one XML vocabulary to another is fundamental to exploiting the power of XML. Learning XSLT is a carefully paced, example-rich introduction to XSLT that will have you understanding and using XSLT on your own in no time.

Table of Contents

Preface 

1. Transforming Documents with XSLT

      How XSLT Works 

      Using Client-Side XSLT in a Browser 

      Using apply-templates 

2. Building New Documents with XSLT

      Outputting Text 

      Literal Result Elements 

      Using the Element Called element 

      Adding Attributes 

      Outputting Comments 

      Outputting Processing Instructions 

      One Final Example 

3. Controlling Output

      The Output Method 

      Outputting XML 

      Outputting HTML 

      Outputting Text 

      Using a QName Output Method 

      Media Types 

4. Traversing the Tree

      The XPath Data Model 

      Location Paths 

      Expressions 

      What Is a Pattern? 

      Predicates 

      Axes 

      Name and Node Tests 

      Doing the Math with Expressions 

5. XPath and XSLT Functions

      Boolean Functions 

      Node-Set Functions 

      Number Functions 

      String Functions 

6. Copying Nodes

      The copy Element 

      The copy-of Element 

      Copying Nodes from Two Documents 

7. Using Variables and Parameters

      Defining Variables and Parameters 

      Using Variables 

      Using Parameters 

      Invoking Templates with Parameters 

      Using Result Tree Fragments 

8. Sorting Things Out

      Simple Ascending Sort 

      Reversing the Sort 

      By the Numbers 

      Multiple Sorts 

      The lang and case-order Attributes 

9. Numbering Lists

      Numbered Lists 

      Alphabetical Lists 

      Roman Numerals 

      Inserting an Individual Formatted Value 

      Numbering Levels 

      The from Attribute 

      The lang and letter-value Attributes 

      More Help with Formatted Numbers 

10. Templates

      Template Priority 

      Calling a Named Template 

      Using Templates with Parameters 

      Modes 

      Built-in Template Rules 

11. Using Keys

      A Simple Key 

      More Than One Key 

      Using a Parameter with Keys 

      Cross-Referencing with Keys 

      Grouping with Keys 

12. Conditional Processing

      The if Element 

      The choose and when Elements 

13. Working with Multiple Documents

      Including Stylesheets 

      Importing Stylesheets 

      Using the document(  ) Function 

14. Alternative Stylesheets

      A Literal Result Element Stylesheet 

      An Embedded Stylesheet 

      Aliasing a Namespace 

      Excluding Namespaces 

15. Extensions

      Xalan, Saxon, and EXSLT Extensions 

      Using a Saxon Extension Attribute 

      Result Tree Fragment to Node-Set 

      Using EXSLT 

      Fallback Behavior 

      Checking for Extension Availability 

16. XSLT 2.0 and XPath 2.0

      New XSLT 2.0 Features 

      New XPath 2.0 Features 

      Multiple Result Trees 

      Using Regular Expressions 

      Grouping in XSLT 2.0 

      Extension Functions 

17. Writing an XSLT ProcessorInterface

      Running an XSLT Processor from Java 

      Writing an XSLT Processor with C# 

18. Parting Words

      The Ox Documentation Tool 

      Signing Off 

Appendix: XSLT Processors 

Glossary 

Index