Managing Web Content With Core Focus And HTML/XML Part II Summit 2001, Orlando Desert, California Bob Hughes and Laura Voss-Allen, California State University,

Managing Web Content With Core FocusAnd HTML/XML Part II

Summit 2001, Orlando Desert, California Bob Hughes and Laura Voss-Allen, California State University, [email protected], [email protected]

NORCAL FUSE: http://www.csuhayward.edu/FOCUS/ncalibug.htm

mailto:[email protected]

Summit 2001 - Bob Hughes & Laura Voss-Allen, Cal State Univ., Hayward 2

Presentation Section II

Custom XML Content and Data Generation with Core FOCUS

HTML and XML IntegrationData Separation and BindingTrue Paging with JavaScript


What is XML?

XML = Extensible Markup Language Per W3C – “XML is a subset of SGML…XML has

been designed for ease of use…with both SGML and HTML.”

Unlike HTML, XML does not have a fixed set of predefined elements. Instead XML has only a very basic syntax allowing the XML author to create elements and name them.

XML Syntax is flexible but strict (not forgiving like HTML)

XML is not a replacement for HTML, it is complementary


What is XML? (cont’d)

XML documents are structured in a Treelike hierarchy

Element names can and should be descriptive

Elements are nested within other elements

Can be used to describe chapters in a book, database fields, etc…

Supports HRMML, CML, MathML, GedML, MusicMl and more…


Basic XML Rules

Document must have only one top-level/root element

Elements must be properly nestedElements must have start and end

tags and tag names must match(case sensitive)


XML Notes…

Easy to learn – choose applications wisely - may not benefit much, depending on app

Separation of data from formatting code - i.e. "data islands" - a big benefit!

Paging buttons + other HTML/Java/JavaScript/VBScript Integration an advantage

hrefs not bindable - disadvantage


Simple XML Layout

Uses Minimum Amount Of XML Code To Convert Focus Report To XML Format

Unlike HTML Minimum Effort, Results Produces only Rough Looking Tree Based Expandable View

Requires Very Little Effort


XML Tag Elements

XML Declaration

Document/Root Element

Elements Nested With Document


Simple XML Layout


Display Methods for XML Documents

Style Sheet Linking CSS (standard HTML Style sheet language) XSL,XSLT (newer, more powerful XML oriented)

Data Binding** Link from HTML Page Bind standard HTML Elements

e.g. SPAN, TABLE

Scripting After linking from HTML Page use JavaScript,

VBScript etc. for access and manipulation


XML Formatting with CSS



CSS File Reference




XML Formatting with XSL

XSL=Extensible Stylesheet LanguageLinked to an XML document like CSSXSL provides more power

Present data in any order or arrangement

Freely modify or add information Sort and Filter XML Data May include scripts






HTML/XML DATA BINDING

Used for displaying XML Data from within a conventional HTML page.

Links HTML elements to XML Data File elements

Works only with symmetric XML Documents such as a database with records and fields


Main HTML/XML Binding Steps with Core Focus...

Use DEFINE Facility For XML and HTML Tag Creation

Incorporate XML and HTML Tags into Focexec for XML and HTML Files

Save XML and HTML Files via WP Hold

Use FTP Dynamic Focexec to move to any IP address (Web Server, etc.)


XML TAG DEFINES


HTML/XML Data Binding

Tables Used For Data PresentationFont Sizing and Color ControlXML Links added to HTML Page HTML and XML Files GeneratedJavascript Contols Used For Paging

against Bound XML Data File


HTML with XML Data Binding(1)








HTML > HTML/XML Links


HTML W/ All Data Embedded


HTML with XML Data Binding


XML Parsers

MS IE v5.5 (built-in parser)MSXML v4.0MS XML Validation Tool (command line)

Xmlint.exe @www.microsoft.com/xmlNetscape v6.01 (built-in parser)Online Brown University XML ValidatorWide Variety of XML Parsers/Validators

written in Java ‘on the web’


XML Parsers-MS XML Validation Tool (command line)


XML Parsers-MSIE v5.5

Element Tag Name Mismatch Error Found


XML Parsers-Netscape v6.01


XML Validation-Brown Univ

http://www.stg.brown.edu/service/xmlvalid/


XML Validation-Brown Univ

http://www.stg.brown.edu/service/xmlvalid/


References Books

MS Press Step by Step XML Addison-Wesley XSLT Working with XML and

HTML

Web Sites www.microsoft.com/xml www.w3c.org/xml www.xml.com www.xml.org

Presentation Update www.csuhayward.edu/FOCUS/summit01

http://www.microsoft.com/xml

http://www.w3c.org/xml

http://www.xml.com/

http://www.xml.org/