Beginning XSLT

As a thorough tutorial to XSL, this text stands out, with its patient authorial style and the consistent use of an online TV guide for a case study used to illustrate key concepts. The advantage to this approach is the consistency of the material. Early sections look at the underpinnings of XML itself before delving into the basics of transforming XML data (for a TV schedule) into (X)HTML using today's tools, including MSXML, Saxon, and Xalan.

The author's expertise is continually on display throughout this text as she adds new functions and flexibility to XSL operations, including searching and sorting abilities. This book convincingly demonstrates that XSL is a "real" programming language, with support for variables and even simulating changing variables through recursion. Chances are you may not need every technique presented here, but the range of options covered remains impressive and helps make this a book you can return to more than once as you extend your knowledge of XSL over time.

Later sections range further afield, with material on extensions to "standard" XSL (like extension functions and attributes that let you do more), as well as other options for processing XML (like Schematron, for example). Two standards get their due late in the book--the Resource Definition Framework Site Summary (RSS), for describing content channels, and graphics defined with the Scalable Vector Graphics (SVG) standard. Handy reference sections for XSL keywords and XPath round out this admirably rich text.

For anyone new to XSL, this title will serve in providing the basics, with its patient presentation style and truly clear examples. For those who want to do even more, this book is surprisingly deep for a beginner's text. In all, it provides a wealth of options for XSL and related standards that will definitely meet the needs of a variety of readers seeking to get acquainted with today's important XSL standards and tools. --Richard Dragan