Learning Objectives:
You will be able to create an XSL document for an XML document
You will be attach an XSL document to an XML document.
Homework:
Read the XSL tutorials from the W3schools.
Read: Chapter 6
XSL Definition:
XSL is an XML document!
XSL is the marriage between HTML and XML to create a document that is viewable by us mere mortals.
XSL is a language that can transform, filter and sort XML data into HTML or prepare the data for different devices, like screen, paper or voice.
A common way to describe the transformation process is to say that XSL uses XSLT to transform an XML source tree (starting document) into an XML result tree (the finished product)
How does it work?
In the transformation process, XSL uses XPath to define parts of the source document that match one or more predefined templates.
When a match is found, XSL will transform the matching part of the source document into the result document. The parts of the source document that do not match a template will (as a general rule) end up unmodified in theresult.
Source Tree (XML Document Before Transformation) ------> Result Tree (After Transformation)
Syntax for calling an XSL document from an XML:
<?xml-stylesheet type="text/xsl" href="URL-of-XSL-document"?>Add XSL to your XML Resume & XML Address book documents
Topics Covered:
Practice Xpath:
What is the path to ingredient, currency, product_code & name for this XML Document
XSL Definition:
XSL is an XML document!
XSL is the marriage between HTML and XML to create a document that is viewable by us mere mortals.
XSL is a language that can transform, filter and sort XML data into HTML or prepare the data for different devices, like screen, paper or voice.
A common way to describe the transformation process is to say that XSL uses XSLT to transform an XML source tree (starting document) into an XML result tree (the finished product)
How does it work?
In the transformation process, XSL uses XPath to define parts of the source document that match one or more predefined templates.
When a match is found, XSL will transform the matching part of the source document into the result document. The parts of the source document that do not match a template will (as a general rule) end up unmodified in theresult.
Source Tree (XML Document Before Transformation) ------> Result Tree (After Transformation)
Syntax for calling an XSL document from an XML:
<?xml-stylesheet type="text/xsl" href="URL-of-XSL-document"?>Example of XSL Document Syntax
<?xml version="1.0"?>
< xsl:stylesheet version="1.0" xmlns:xsl="http://www.w3.org/1999/XSL/Transform">< xsl:template match="/">
Formating of XSL document (Template)
</xsl:template>
< /xsl:stylesheet>
Template creation:
The first step I used was to identify the information I wanted and construct a path
<xsl:for-each select="FallSchedule/Class">
to that information. The xsl:for-each creates a loop that continues until you end the XML document.
The second step was creating a formula to display the information I wanted
<xsl:value-of select="Number" />
I wanted to display only the information contained by the Number element!
The final step was to add HTML tags to the XSL to display (render) the information I selected.
Template Manipulations:
| Element Name | Description | Attributes |
|---|---|---|
| xsl:apply-templates | Applies a template to the current element. | order-by="+|-pattern" select="pattern" |
| xsl:attribute | Adds a new attribute to the current output element. | name="attribute-name" |
| xsl:cdata | Adds a new CDATA section to the output. | |
| xsl:choose | Provides a selection mechanism based on conditions. | |
| xsl:comment | Adds a comment node to the output. | |
| xsl:copy | Copies the current node to the output. | |
| xsl:define-template-set | Defines a new set of templates | |
| xsl:element | Adds a new element node to the output. | name="name" |
| xsl:entity-ref | Adds a new entity reference node to the output. | name="name" |
| xsl:eval | Provides an evaluation mechanism to evaluate output content. | language="language" |
| xsl:for-each | Provides a mechanism to create a loop in the output stream. | select="pattern" order-by="-|+ pattern" |
| xsl:if | Provides a conditional branch mechanism based on a condition. | match="pattern" |
| xsl:node-name | Adds the name of the current node to the output. | |
| xsl:otherwise | Part of the choose mechanism (see xsl:choose). | |
| xsl:pi | Adds a processing instruction to the output. | name="name" |
| xsl:script | Defines a script area inside a template. | language="language" |
| xsl:stylesheet | Defines the root element of the style sheet. | xmlns:xml="namespace" language="language" indent-result="yes|no" |
| xsl:template | Defines a template. | match="pattern" language="language" |
| xsl:value-of | Defines a node to insert into the output. | select="pattern" |
| xsl:when | Part of the choose mechanism (see xsl:choose) | test="expression" |
Practice:
I want to take by XML version of my fall schedule and display only the class number. I can use an XSL template to display only the information I want!
Terms:
Xpath, XSL, XSL template, Source Tree, Result Tree
Dr. Jon Storslee
Phone: 602-787-6734
