XSLT Programmer's Reference

Kay calls XSLT the "SQL of the Web"--a phrase that is sure to perk up the ears of many readers expecting a simple documentation of just another Web-language standard. Like other Wrox Programmer's Reference series titles, this book starts off with chapters that rapidly introduce the concepts and set the context for the core of the book, which is a complete documentation of the XSLT standard. The book uses this space well to explore the transformation process and the tree structure that is used for both input and output of style sheet documents. By the time the reader gets to the reference section of the book, he or she will be convinced of the power of XSLT.

Each element of XSLT is covered with concise examples that include both the source XML code and style sheet code. XSLT style sheets can be used in a variety of ways and across a wide spectrum of complexity. The book helps the reader grasp this concept by presenting four style-sheet design patterns that comprise the vast majority of implementations. The text looks at each, demonstrating how to identify the design pattern by its content and apply it to appropriate circumstances.

Topics covered:

• XSLT transformation processing model
• Style sheet structure
• XSLT element reference
• Expressions patterns
• Functions
• Style-sheet design patterns
• Case studies
• Saxon
• Xalan
• xt
• Microsoft MSXML3

• Chapter 1: XSLT in Context
• Chapter 2: Processing Model
• Chapter 3: Stylesheet Structure
• Chapter 4: Elements
• Chapter 5: Expressions
• Chapter 6: Patterns
• Chapter 7: Functions
• Chapter 8: Design Patterns
• Chapter 9: Worked Examples
• Chapter 10: Products
• Chapter 11: MSXML Processor
• Glossary