XML Schema Accelerated
Product Description
XML Schema is the next generation of enterprise data modeling and, as a developer, you need to know this industry acknowledged standard yesterday. Virtually all major systems development or integration projects today involve some aspect of XML Schema, whether it is only the datatypes and regular expressions, or the full specification. XML Schema Accelerated is the companion workbook to Altova Online Training’s XML Schema Accelerated Series of classes. The modules in this book take you from “know-of” to “know-how” with a step-by-step introduction to the details of XML Schema development using the world’s leading XML development tool: Altova XMLSpy. Developers will appreciate the simple but precise explanations and the comprehensive coverage of the text. Major points are expanded with illustrations, screen shots, examples, and the perspective of Altova’s award winning development team.
Altova’s market-leading XML Schema editing tool, Altova XMLSpy, is used throughout the workbook. Altova XMLSpy’s companion Altova SchemaAgent™, a tool used for complex information architecture work with XML Schema, also makes several appearances. While the content is primarily focused on standards conformant XML Schema development, exposure to the world’s leading XML development tool and its sophisticated XML Schema features is a considerable benefit. The workbook includes references to a large number of downloadable exercises and example files. These files are also bundled with soft copies of the text in both PDF and HTML Help format for fast look-ups. Everything is in place to let you get to work with XML Schema right away, and Altova XMLSpy helps you make it look easy.
This developer’s workbook-format training material is rich in examples, exercises and insights covering the entire scope of the W3C XML Schema recommendation including the built-in datatype library, the structures, regular expressions, and best practices. A working knowledge of XML is assumed. Some exposure to the core concepts of XPath 1.0 is helpful for the chapters on modeling relational constraints. No programming experience is needed to accelerate your knowledge of XML Schema with this comprehensive technical introduction to one of the most vital and important subjects in the XML development world.
Since third-party documentation simply does not yet exist for Altova’s current XML development suite, I jumped at the chance to order this book and its companion volume on XSLT.
I now wish that I had saved my money.
FORMAT:
First, you need to know what this book is: it’s a bound hard-copy of a PDF document. Unfortunately text quality is reminiscent of a low-end, circa-1982 dot matrix printer, and the images are so blurry that they could double as Rorschach tests.
Text refers to colors within figures; unfortunately the book is printed entirely in grayscale. You’re able to download the full-color PDF version of the book, but its image quality is no better.
The printed-PDF format takes “padding” to a whole new level. Text coverage of each page probably averages below 25%. In other words, you’re paying for an ENORMOUS amount of blank space. Entirely blank pages abound, and at a cost of roughly ten cents per page, that’s inexcusable.
All of this would be annoying but tolerable if the content were worthwhile. Sorry, no such luck.
CONTENT:
Many superior books on XSD theory exist; I didn’t expect — or intend — to learn Schemas from the ground up using this book. Instead, I HOPED that this book would provide what its description promised: instruction on how to use Altova’s XML suite to create XML Schemas.
Instead I got a bewildering jumble of badly-ordered general Schema theory, list after list packed with undefined jargon, and visualizations that baffled rather than elucidated. For example, this is a DIRECT QUOTE from page 283: “In most cases the notation is simple enough that you can follow it, even with a minimal key (this image, actually, is as bad as it gets).”
At least they’re honest.
There is almost NO COVERAGE of how Altova’s tool suite can be applied to the complexities of XSD. Just one practical, cogent exercise per chapter would have softened my review considerably. Other than a few incomplete examples early on, including 76 pages (10% of the book) on DTDs, which aren’t even the subject of the book, Altova hardly mentions its own tools or thier use.
I realize that this book encapsulates the materials that accompany one of their ridiculously pricey online training courses. Would this book make more sense with a teacher guiding the reader through it? I can’t see how it would, but if that’s the case, then this book should never be sold as a stand-alone product.
Conclusion: if you want to learn XML Schema, seek out any other book than this one. If you want to learn to use Altova’s XML suite, hope that a much better writer and a much, MUCH better publisher decides that it’s a profitable subject.
Unfortunately, you won’t learn EITHER from this grossly overpriced rush job.
Rating: 1 / 5