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From: Kathryn Barrett <kathrynb@oreilly.com>
Subject: "Learning XSLT" Released by O'Reilly
Date: Wed, 3 Dec 2003 23:36:36 GMT

A Hands-On Learning Guide to XSLT and XPath
O'Reilly Releases "Learning XSLT"

Sebastopol, CA--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. First, you write an XSLT
stylesheet that defines the rules for transforming the XML document; then
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. In "Learning XSLT" (O'Reilly, US $34.95) author
Michael Fitzgerald offers a hands-on introduction to help readers get up
to speed with XSLT quickly.

"Learning XSLT" helps developers find a clear path into this technology by
explaining XSLT in detail, while recognizing that much of XSLT isn't
obvious, even to experienced programmers. Readers will explore a broad
range of XSLT features, from simple templates to the more obscure corners
of the technology, practicing the techniques along the way. According to
Fitzgerald, his twenty years of writing have led him to the conclusion
that we all learn best by doing; therefore the book is rich with hands-on
examples to help readers begin doing useful work with XSLT the same day
they start reading it.

The focus of "Learning XSLT" is getting readers up to speed quickly. The
book contains little reference material. For that, Fitzgerald recommends
O'Reilly's "XSLT" by Doug Tidwell. As Fitzgerald explains, "'Learning
XSLT' will get readers off to a running start. It's not bogged down in
getting all the excruciating details right--it's all about getting XSLT to
do stuff immediately. It will be hard for a reader not to feel successful
in the first chapter."

"Learnng XSLT" moves smoothly from the simple to complex, illustrating all
aspects of XSLT 1.0 through step-by-step examples. Thorough in its
coverage of the language, the book makes few assumptions about what
readers may already know. The book covers XSLT's template-based syntax,
how XSLT templates work with each other, and 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,
hands-on introduction to the technology that will have readers
understanding and using XSLT in no time, even if it's their first glance
at the technology.

Additional Resources:

An article by the author, "Five XSLT Basics," can be found at:
http://www.xml.com/pub/a/2003/11/26/learnXSLT.html

Chapter 2, "Building New Documents with XSLT," is available free online
at:
http://www.oreilly.com/catalog/learnxslt/chapter/index.html

For more information about the book, including Table of Contents, index,
author bio, and samples, see:
http://www.oreilly.com/catalog/learnxslt/

For a cover graphic in JPEG format, go to:
ftp://ftp.ora.com/pub/graphics/book_covers/hi-res/0596003277.jpg

Learning XSLT
Michael Fitzgerald
ISBN 0-596-00327-7, 352 pages, $34.95 US, $54.95 CA
order@oreilly.com
1-800-998-9938
1-707-827-7000
http://www.oreilly.com

About O'Reilly
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computer technologies. The company's books, conferences, and web sites
bring to light the knowledge of technology innovators. O'Reilly books,
known for the animals on their covers, occupy a treasured place on the
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O'Reilly conferences and summits bring alpha geeks and forward-thinking
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industries. From the Internet to XML, open source, .NET, Java, and web
services, O'Reilly puts technologies on the map. For more information:
http://www.oreilly.com

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