Building XML-Based Web Applications
(Microsoft Training Course: 1905) - 5 days - £2640 exc VAT

This course will familiarize students with the Extensible Markup Language (XML) and teach them how to build Web applications by using XML. It assumes no prior knowledge of XML

1. Overview of XML Documents
2. Overview of XML Technologies
3. Generating XML Data from a Database
4. Displaying an XML Document Using XSL
5. Embedding XML Data in HTML
6. Manipulating XML Data on the Client Using DOM
7. Posting XML Data from Client to Server
8. Validating XML Data Using Schemas
9. Introducing BizTalk™

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Supplementary Information This course content can also be followed in .Net 2005 courses 2663 and 2500

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Module 1: Overview of XML Documents

• Structuring Data
• What is XML?
• Creating XML Documents
• Grammars and Namespaces

Skills

• List the uses for XML on a Web site.
  
• List the advantages and disadvantages of using XML.
  
• Describe the structure of an XML document.
  
• Create a simple XML document.
  
• List some of the issues associated with designing XML documents.
  

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Module 2: Overview of XML Technologies

• XML Technologies: The Big Picture
• Viewing XML with Style Sheets
• Binding XML to HTML
• Accessing XML with the Document Object Model (DOM)
• Validating XML

Skills

• Explain the use of style sheets.
  
• Explain the use of data binding XML data to HTML.
  
• Describe the Document Object Model (DOM).
  
• Explain the need for validation.
  
• Describe the differences between DTDs and XML schemas
  

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Module 3: Generating XML Data from a Database

• Overview of XML-Based Web Applications
• Using Active Server Pages
• Accessing Data with ADO
• Returning XML to the Client

Skills

• Describe how Active Server Pages interact with a Web client.
  
• Process form data with server-side scripting and the Response object.
  
• Use the Response object to return data to the client.
  
• Create an ASP page to return XML to a browser.
  
• Use an ActiveX Data Object (ADO) Recordset to retrieve data from a database.
  
• Convert the contents of an ADO Recordset into XML.
  

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Module 4: Displaying an XML Document Using XSL

• Transforming XML with XSL
• Using Templates
• Filtering and Sorting XML
• XSL Language Constructs
• Creating New Nodes Dynamically

Skills

• Describe how XSL transforms an XML tree into a different XML result tree.
  
• Write an XSL style sheet with template rules and <xsl:value-of> actions.
  
• Use <xsl:apply templates> to apply additional templates.
  
• Use the path and filter capabilities of XSL for pattern matching.
  
• Achieve complex styling with XSL language constructs.
  
• Generate new nodes in the XML result tree.
  

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Module 5: Embedding XML Data in HTML

• Using Data in Web Browsers
• Data Binding
• Manipulating the Data Source

Skills

• Describe the nature of a data island.
  
• Describe how to use Data Source Objects to display XML data islands in an HTML page.
  
• Create an XML data island in an HTML file.
  
• Bind XML data to HTML elements.
  

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Module 6: Manipulating XML Data on the Client Using DOM

• The DOM View of XML Documents
• Accessing DOM Trees
• Transforming XML with XSL Programmatically
• Working with Elements and Attributes
• Displaying XML Data Using DOM

Skills

• List four XML DOM objects.
  
• Identify the nodes of a DOM tree.
  
• Retrieve information from a DOM tree.
  
• Add, move, and remove nodes in a DOM tree.
  
• Identify the limitations of XSL style sheet transformations.
  
• Use DOM to perform a transformation between XML and HTML.
  

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Module 7: Posting XML Data from Client to Server

• Preparing XML Data on the Client
• Posting Data to the Server
• DOM Manipulation on the Server
• Receiving the Response on the Client

Skills

• Describe the issues involved in creating an XML data packet to send to a server.
  
• Use the XMLHTTP object to send data back to the server.
  
• Convert XML into a server-side DOM tree.
  
• Update the back-end database with data from the client.
  
• Issue a response from the server to the client.
  

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Module 8: Validating XML Data Using Schemas

• The Need for Validation
• Writing an XML Schema
• Extending an XML Schema
• Validating XML in a Client/Server Environment

Skills

• Describe when validation is needed.
  
• Create an XML schema.
  
• Validate an XML document by using an XML schema.
  
• Apply an XML schema to an XML document, both statically and dynamically.
  

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Module 9: Introducing BizTalk™

• Business-to-Business Challenges
• BizTalk Server
• BizTalk Jumpstart Kit

Skills

• Identify problems inherent in sharing disparate data.
  
• Identify the business-to-business uses of XML.
  
• Describe the purpose of Microsoft BizTalk Framework.
  
• List the resources available in the Microsoft BizTalk Jumpstart Kit.
  

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This course requires that students meet the following prerequisites:

• Knowledge of HTML
• Knowledge of relational databases
• Programming using Microsoft Visual Basic®, Visual Basic for Applications, or the Visual Basic, Scripting Edition (VBScript) language: creating procedures, using loops, variables, and COM objects
• Knowledge of a data-access API such as DAO, RDO, or ADO
• Taking one or more of the following courses will help students meet the prerequisites and get more out of the course:
• Course 1013, Mastering Visual Basic 6 Development
• Course 1017, Mastering Web Application Development Using Visual InterDev

At the end of the course, students will be able to:List the uses and benefits of XML on a Web site. Create well-formed and valid XML documents. Create an XML schema. Use XSL to display XML data in a Web browser. Use XSL to transform XML data into a different format. Display dynamic XML data in a Web browser by using data binding and the Document Object Model. Use ASP and ADO to read data from a data source and store it as XML. Add, delete, and update data on the client by using XML and saving data to a database on the server

This course content can also be followed in .Net 2005 courses 2663 and 2500