I need a direction about XML/XSL/XSLT etc.
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I've used simple XSLT to convert XML to a web page but now I wonder how far can I go. That's why I want to ask a few questions what is possible. Is it possible to create a full web site just using XML? I want the transformations to occur on the server if possible. How can I do it. I have no idea at all. I have probably PHP support on the server (I'm not quite sure) but I can neither program it nor I want to learn it (except very basic stuff if needed) due to time constraints. My goal is to create a web catalog that I feed with XML files about each product and images and they are displayed in particular order. So when I want to change something I just upload a new XML file or image. That's all. The goods won't be too many, maybe just a couple of hundereds or even much less. Is this possible to create with XML/XSL/XSLT? Which good modern book do you recommend me to read about that topic? Thank you very much!
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I've used simple XSLT to convert XML to a web page but now I wonder how far can I go. That's why I want to ask a few questions what is possible. Is it possible to create a full web site just using XML? I want the transformations to occur on the server if possible. How can I do it. I have no idea at all. I have probably PHP support on the server (I'm not quite sure) but I can neither program it nor I want to learn it (except very basic stuff if needed) due to time constraints. My goal is to create a web catalog that I feed with XML files about each product and images and they are displayed in particular order. So when I want to change something I just upload a new XML file or image. That's all. The goods won't be too many, maybe just a couple of hundereds or even much less. Is this possible to create with XML/XSL/XSLT? Which good modern book do you recommend me to read about that topic? Thank you very much!
Cristoff wrote:
Is it possible to create a full web site just using XML?
Yes and No. You can define the content. But as you point out, it does need some xsl/xslt processing.
Cristoff wrote:
but I can neither program it nor I want to learn it
I will say a big problem. Developing good xslt is programing really. (Or call it another art form.) Your issue is what enviroment do you want to use. If you are serious that you do not have time. Then I think that is your answer, you do not have time. Really depends on what you call basic stuff.
Cristoff wrote:
Is this possible to create with XML/XSL/XSLT?
Yes, very much so. Now which option to you want and what constraints do your clients force upon you? Do a search on AJAX, and Apache Cocoon for some options. Now my guess is you do not have time for either. So what are you comfortable developing dynamic pages now? Select it, add xml processing and generate the basic pages just as you always have. Then add the content by getting the values of the xml element content from either the DOM or SAX models (for small and simpler to understand probably the DOM) "Every new day begins with possibilities. It's up to us to fill it with things that move us toward progress and peace.” (Ronald Reagan)
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Cristoff wrote:
Is it possible to create a full web site just using XML?
Yes and No. You can define the content. But as you point out, it does need some xsl/xslt processing.
Cristoff wrote:
but I can neither program it nor I want to learn it
I will say a big problem. Developing good xslt is programing really. (Or call it another art form.) Your issue is what enviroment do you want to use. If you are serious that you do not have time. Then I think that is your answer, you do not have time. Really depends on what you call basic stuff.
Cristoff wrote:
Is this possible to create with XML/XSL/XSLT?
Yes, very much so. Now which option to you want and what constraints do your clients force upon you? Do a search on AJAX, and Apache Cocoon for some options. Now my guess is you do not have time for either. So what are you comfortable developing dynamic pages now? Select it, add xml processing and generate the basic pages just as you always have. Then add the content by getting the values of the xml element content from either the DOM or SAX models (for small and simpler to understand probably the DOM) "Every new day begins with possibilities. It's up to us to fill it with things that move us toward progress and peace.” (Ronald Reagan)
I have to clarify a few things here first. I hope I'll succeed. :) I want to help you help me!
Michael A. Barnhart wrote:
Cristoff wrote: Is it possible to create a full web site just using XML? Yes and No.
Michael A. Barnhart wrote:
but I can neither program it nor I want to learn it I will say a big problem. Developing good xslt is programing really. (Or call it another art form.)
I don't want to learn PHP but the server supports only PHP and MySQL. I'd rather use ASP.NET but it is not available. I want to learn XSLT. My concern is if just XSLT and all other XML techs are enough for the job. I know that IE 6, Firefox etc. have full support of XML, XSLT etc. so they can do the processing on the client side but I also want the site to be viewed by older browser so I need to process the date on the server. I just have no idea what is needed for the job. A special server or to program the processing in PHP, ASP.NET...
Michael A. Barnhart wrote:
Your issue is what enviroment do you want to use. If you are serious that you do not have time. Then I think that is your answer, you do not have time. Really depends on what you call basic stuff.
Well, I don't want to learn PHP because that will be the first and the last project I'll ever do with it but I'll definitely have much more use just for XML/XSLT. I already have done a personal site with both technologies and it works fine :) (No you cannot view it, it is not on the web). The site I'm working now is made mostly of static HTML pages + some JavaScript. I'm doing it with Dreamweaver. Once it is done I really have no time constraints to come up with a new version. This time I would like to have all the data as XML that I can be created by another person manually. Then when needed just the XML files are replaced without the need to change everything else (the way it is now). If I had access to a server that supports .NET. I wouldn't have asked here at all.
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I have to clarify a few things here first. I hope I'll succeed. :) I want to help you help me!
Michael A. Barnhart wrote:
Cristoff wrote: Is it possible to create a full web site just using XML? Yes and No.
Michael A. Barnhart wrote:
but I can neither program it nor I want to learn it I will say a big problem. Developing good xslt is programing really. (Or call it another art form.)
I don't want to learn PHP but the server supports only PHP and MySQL. I'd rather use ASP.NET but it is not available. I want to learn XSLT. My concern is if just XSLT and all other XML techs are enough for the job. I know that IE 6, Firefox etc. have full support of XML, XSLT etc. so they can do the processing on the client side but I also want the site to be viewed by older browser so I need to process the date on the server. I just have no idea what is needed for the job. A special server or to program the processing in PHP, ASP.NET...
Michael A. Barnhart wrote:
Your issue is what enviroment do you want to use. If you are serious that you do not have time. Then I think that is your answer, you do not have time. Really depends on what you call basic stuff.
Well, I don't want to learn PHP because that will be the first and the last project I'll ever do with it but I'll definitely have much more use just for XML/XSLT. I already have done a personal site with both technologies and it works fine :) (No you cannot view it, it is not on the web). The site I'm working now is made mostly of static HTML pages + some JavaScript. I'm doing it with Dreamweaver. Once it is done I really have no time constraints to come up with a new version. This time I would like to have all the data as XML that I can be created by another person manually. Then when needed just the XML files are replaced without the need to change everything else (the way it is now). If I had access to a server that supports .NET. I wouldn't have asked here at all.
Sounds like you are most of the way then. Assuming the arrangement of the page is basically static, you can output the html declarations (header and body wrapping elements) with either text output from PHP or the initial output from the xslt processing. Then you add the changing html (table rows, or what ever) via the matching loops you have with the xslt processing. The XSLT process does not have to output xml. You do not have to learn much php, just enough to read in the xml file and then start the xslt processing.
Cristoff wrote:
If I had access to a server that supports .NET.
Same boat I am in right now. I have just about convinced myself to go with a different and more expensive service to add the capability. "Every new day begins with possibilities. It's up to us to fill it with things that move us toward progress and peace.” (Ronald Reagan)
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Sounds like you are most of the way then. Assuming the arrangement of the page is basically static, you can output the html declarations (header and body wrapping elements) with either text output from PHP or the initial output from the xslt processing. Then you add the changing html (table rows, or what ever) via the matching loops you have with the xslt processing. The XSLT process does not have to output xml. You do not have to learn much php, just enough to read in the xml file and then start the xslt processing.
Cristoff wrote:
If I had access to a server that supports .NET.
Same boat I am in right now. I have just about convinced myself to go with a different and more expensive service to add the capability. "Every new day begins with possibilities. It's up to us to fill it with things that move us toward progress and peace.” (Ronald Reagan)