XML, XSLT and XPath

More about XML, XSLT and XPath

Ofcourse, if you want to work with BizTalk, it is very useful to understand XML, XSLT and Xpath (very useful beinig an understatement).

For me, the best way to learn the basics of any code has always been w3schools.

So, educate yourself and take a look at:

XML tutorial:

http://www.w3schools.com/xml/default.asp

XSLT tutorial:

http://www.w3schools.com/xml/xml_xsl.asp

XPath tutorial:

http://www.w3schools.com/xml/xml_xpath.asp

XML tutorial

Parents and children

<book>

</book>

</bookstore>

Bookstore is a parent to book

Book is a child to Bookstore and a Parent to title, author and price.

Title, author and price are children to book, and siblings to each other.

XML tree stucture

1. <?xml version ='1.0' encoding='UTF-8'?>

2. <Note>

3. <To> Eva </To>

<From> Thomas </From>

<Heading> Reminder </Heading>

<Body> Don't forget me this weekend </Body>

4. </Note>

1. XML declaration, defines the XML version

2. Root element, describes type of document (this document is a note)

3. Four child elements of the root node

4. The end of the root node element

All XML tags must have a closing tag.

XML tags are case sensitive.

XML elements must be properly nested.

XML documents must contain one element that is the parent off all other elements (root node).

XML can have attributes in name/value pairs. The attribute values must always be quoted:

Comment in XML

XML element <gender> ... </gender>

XML attribute <person gender= "female">

Metadata (data about data) should be stored as attributes, and the data itself should be stored as elements.

Name conflicts in XML can be easily avoided using a naming prefix:

<h:table> ... </ h:table>

<f:table> ... </ f:table>