516. XSLT
Version 1.2

This comprehensive four-day course develops in-depth knowledge and skills in transforming XML documents using eXtensible Stylesheet Language Transformations, or XSLT.  Students work through extensive hands-on exercises in transformations from XML to plain text, HTML, and XML, with good grounding in XPath along the way.  Intermediate and advanced techniques are also covered including variables and parameters, callable templates, sorting and grouping, tail recursion, working with multiple documents, and XSLT extensions.  The course teaches XPath and XSLT 1.0 but looks forward to the 2.0 releases of both specifications with pointers about what new features to expect.

Prerequisites

  * Ability to read and to write well-formed XML -- Course 501 is excellent preparation.
  * Ability to read a DTD not strictly required, but preferred.

Learning Objectives

  * Write simple and complex queries into XML document content using XPath.
  * Harness the built-in template rules to process just the right source information, getting maximum leverage from the XSLT processor.
  * Control the exact production of text, HTML and XML elements, and whitespace.
  * Use mode and priority to control template matching.
  * Use looping and conditional processing to manage output production.
  * Declare, bind and reference XSLT variables and parameters.
  * Use callable templates to capture common transformations and styling.
  * Filter and sort XSLT output.
  * Use XSLT keys and other techniques to achieve grouping in transformation output and to derive aggregate information on groups.
  * Produce refined transformation output including auto-numbering, formatted numeric output, and aggregate values such as sums and counts.
  * Implement more complex processes using tail recursion in callable templates.
  * Use the XSLT document function to manage multiple source documents.
  * Import and include multiple transform definitions to foster reuse of transformation logic.
  * Use XSLT extensions to empower transforms with more sophisticated and reusable logic.

Timeline: 4 days.

Chapter 1. Getting Started with XSLT
    XSL and XSLT
    Rule-Based Transformations
    Templates
    Producing Text, HTML, and XML

Chapter 2. XPath
    Addressing XML Content
    XPath in XSLT
    Tree Structure
    XPath Expressions
    Type Model
    Context
    Axis, Node Test, and Predicate
    Abbreviations
    Proximity Position
    XPath Functions
    Comparisons Between Various Types

Chapter 3. Templates and Production
    Template Matching
    Built-In Template Rules
    Recursion Through Templates
    Template Context
    Output Methods
    Controlling Whitespace
    Literal Replacement Elements
    Formalizing Text, Elements and Attributes
    Defining Target Vocabulary
    Generating Processing Instructions

Chapter 4. Dynamic Content and Flow Control
    Deriving Source Content
    Getting Source Values
    Attribute Value Templates
    Copying Source Elements and Trees
    Looping
    Conditionals

Chapter 5. Variables and Template Management
    Variables
    Using Variables to Capture Context Information
    Result Tree Fragments
    Parameters
    Calling Templates Explicitly
    Global Variables and Stylesheet Parameters
    Template Modes

Chapter 6. Sorting and Grouping
    Sorting
    Data Type for Sorting
    Grouping
    Uses for Grouping
    Using the Preceding-Sibling Axis
    Using XSLT Keys
    Iterating Over Groups
    Iterating Within a Group

Chapter 7. Advanced XSLT
    Auto-Numbering
    Number Formatting
    XSLT Performance
    Debugging and Diagnostics
    Computing Aggregate Values
    Tail Recursion

Chapter 8. Multiple Documents and Transforms
    Merging Multiple Source Documents
    The XSLT Document Function
    Reusing Transformation Logic
    Including Transforms
    Importing Transforms

Chapter 9. Extensions
    Extension Namespaces and Exclusions
    Extension Elements
    Extension Functions
    EXSLT
    Redirects
    Node-Set Conversion

Appendix A. Learning Resources

System Requirements

    Hardware, Minimum: 500 MHz, 128 meg RAM, 50 meg disk space.

    Hardware, Recommended: 1.0 GHz, 256 meg RAM, 50 meg disk space.

    Operating System: Tested on Windows XP Professional.  Course software should be viable on all systems which support W3C-compliant XML tools.

    Network and Security: Limited privileges required -- please see our standard security requirements at http://capcourse.com/Guides/Security.gen.html.

    Software Requirements:  All free downloadable tools.