by Steven Holzner

New Riders, July, 2001.
Trade Paperback, 616 pages.
ISBN: 0735711364

Inside XSTL provides comprehensive instruction and tips for using XSLT (Extensible Stylesheet Language Transformation), which is used to transform XML documents into XML, HTML or other kinds of documents. The book covers several popular XSLT processors which are available free on the Internet: Xalan, XT, Saxon, Oracle's XSLT processor and IE's built-in XSLT processor. The book covers numerous XSLT-related topics including trees, nodes, stylesheets, templates, match patterns, sorting data, Xpath, XSLT processors and XSL-FO.

Steve Holzner frequently writes about programming topics like XSTL and has authored 67 books, including Inside XML, which could be used as a companion to this book. In Inside XSTL he provides complete coverage through examples, samples and easy-to-follow instruction. Holzner explains how in many ways SQL can function like a database language and that some people even think of XSLT as the "SQL of the Web." Holzner uses the same XML document throughout the book, which makes it easier for readers to follow along and grasp new concepts. Some prior knowledge of XML and HTML is recommended.

Inside XSLT is available for purchase on Amazon.com

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This review was published in the March, 2002 of The Internet Writing Journal.

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