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XSLT ransforms

 
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I've just been put on a project where I'm required to write XSLT transforms ... my problem is I'm a Java developer but have NO experience of XML, but good experience with HTML ... is this going to cause me a problem. Do I need to be extrememly familiar with XML to write these transforms or will a basic knowledge suffice?
With my knowledge of HTML will I find XML fairly easy to pick up? I'm really nervous about this project, and it has a fairly tight deadline. If I know I'm not going to be able to cope I'll ask to be re-assigned.
 
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XML is fairly easy when compared to XSL. XML shares a lot of common things with HTML - the "tag-syntax" for example. So if you are comfortable working with HTML, you shouldn't have any problems with learning XML. Infact you will find XML is easier to learn.
XSL has a significantly larger set of vocabulary, syntax and grammer. The more familiarity with what each xsl construct can do will help you design your stylesheet more efficiently.
Don't get tensed about it. After learning about XML checkout these XSL/XSLT links

XSL Jumpstart - http://www.jeremie.com/JumpStart/XSL.jer
XSL Training - http://www.nwalsh.com/docs/tutorials/xsl/xsl/slides.html
XSLT questions and anwers - http://www.dpawson.co.uk/xsl/sect21.html
XSLT programmers reference - http://www.wrox.com/Consumer/Store/Books/3129/contents.htm
Online book on XSLT tranformatino - http://www.ibiblio.org/xml/books/bible/updates/14.html
Good luck,
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Ajith Kallambella M.
Sun Certified Programmer for the Java2 Platform.
 
Greenhorn
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The biggest problem most developers encounter when they start trying to create XSLT stylesheets is that XSLT is a declarative language, not a procedural one. This means that constructs that look like looping constructs, such as xsl:for-each, don't behave in the way you might expect. For example, if I want to use an xsl:for-each loop to select some distinct subset of elements, I can't use a variable to "remember" what the previous iteration's node value was - as that won't be available when the "next" matched element is processed. I also find the available constructs in XSLT somewhat limiting - certain sophisticated operations, such as taking the weighted average of one value across another value over some set of elements, can't be done using XSLT (at least not in one pass).
- Kevin
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Kevin Williams
Senior System Architect, Equient Corporation
author of: Professional XML Databases
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