Department of Information Technology WEBD341: Enterprise Data Exchange using XML 3 Credit Hours 8 Weeks Prerequisite(s): WEBD121: Web Development Fundamentals Instructor Information Course Description Course Scope Course Objectives Course Delivery Method Resources Appendix A Professor Biography Evaluation Procedures Grading Scale Course Outline Policies Academic Services Selected Bibliography Appendix B Weekly Student Course Guide Instructor Information Instructor: Email: Phone: Fax Office Hours: Bio: Course Description (Catalog) This course is a study of the concepts and applications of the Extensible Markup Language (XML), a general-purpose markup language that can be used to formally specify special-purpose markup languages. This course will be taught from a mixture of analytical and practical methods. Topics include: the history of XML, the XML language, Data Type Definition (DTD), XML Schema, extensible Style Sheet Language (XSL), and extensible Style Sheet Language Transformations (XSLT). The student will bind values to elements to render them distinct and different from its other instances of that attribute and explore the power of XML as a tool for Enterprise Exchange in both the J2EE and.net Software Development Frameworks. Knowledge of XML will enable the student to standardize and reuse reference text, paragraphs, and chapters. (Prerequisite: WEBD121) [3 Semester Hours]
Course Scope This course is a study of the concepts and applications of Extensible Markup Language (XML), which enables students to define their own tags. Course topics include the differences between XML and HTML. Students will learn the XML syntax, to include Data Type Definition (DTD), which will enable students to specify all the structural elements of an XML document. They will learn the Attributes to bind a value to an element so it is distinct and different from other instances of that element. Knowledge of XML will enable the student to standardize and reuse and reference text, paragraphs, and chapters. Course Objectives The successful student will fulfill the following learning objectives: 1. Examine the evolution of the World Wide Web (WWW) in terms of the need for a generalpurpose markup language. 2. Draw conclusions about the power and advantages of XML that have made it the global standard for enterprise data exchange. 3. Compare and contrast Data Type Definitions (DTD) and XML Schemas. 4. Evaluate Global Elements, NameSpaces, and XML Metadata Models (XHTML, DocBook, Resource Description Framework (RDF), and Really Simple Syndication (RSS). 5. Interpret the need, the principles, and the power of XSL and XSLT to create new content, manage site layout, extract information, and for document format conversion. 6. Discuss the process for creating XML documents and apply this knowledge to develop XML and DTD documents. 7. Analyze the ability of XML to facilitate inter-application and inter-tier communications. 8. Apply XSL and XSLT to standardize the look and feel across pages and to generate multiple formats of the same page. Course Delivery Method This course delivered via distance learning will enable students to complete academic work in a flexible manner, completely online. Resources and access to an online learning management system will be made available to each student. Online assignments are due by the last day of each week and include Forum questions (accomplished in groups through a threaded Forum), examinations and quizzes (graded electronically), and individual assignments (submitted for review by the Faculty Member). Assigned faculty will support the students throughout this eightweek course.
Resources Book Number WEBD341-1 Author Book Title Publication Info ISBN Joe Fawcett, Danny Ayers, Liam R. E. Quin Beginning XML 5th Revised edition - E-book links provided inside the classroom Wrox Publications ISBN-10: 1118162137 ISBN-13: 978-1118162132 Software Used: 1. Windows Operating System with IE 5.0 or higher installed 2. Saxon XSLT processor http://saxon.sourceforge.net/ 3. Java Development Kit http://www.java.sun.com/j2se Software Installation Instructions 1. Saxon XSLT processor a. First, read page 242 and 243 of Beginning XML book. b. Use your IE browser and go to http://saxon.sourceforge.net/. Find the latest opensource version. Currently it should be Saxon 9.4HE. Click on the Download link. c. Choose a closest location and click on Download icon. File saxonb8-4.zip will be downloaded. d. Now follow the instruction in page 243 of Beginning XML book. Unpack the zip file and install. Note it is now saxon8 instead of saxon9 in the book. 2. Java Development Kit a. First, read page 405 and 406 in beginning XML book. b. Use your IE browser and go to http://www.oracle.com/technetwork/java/javase/downloads/index.html. Click on Download J2SE SDK c. Check the accept radio button, find your platform, click and download. d. Open and run the download file (e.g. jdk-7u7-windows-i586.exe), the Installation program should be kicked off. Follow the guide in the installer window. Check accept radio button, click on next, till finish the installation. Evaluation Procedures 1. Detailed instructions for weekly assignments are found in Appendix B. 2. Refer to the e-classroom instructions (Appendix C) to find out how to upload assignments, participate in online Forum discussions, and take exams.
Grading Scale Please see the student handbook to reference the University s grading scale. Course Outline Week Topic Learning Objectives Readings Assignment 1 Introduction to XML LO1: Examine the evolution of the World Wide Web (WWW) in terms of the need for a general-purpose markup language. Ch 1, 2 &3 Forum Introduction LO2: Draw conclusions about the power and advantages of XML that have made it the global standard for enterprise data exchange. 2 Validation LO1: Examine the evolution of the World Wide Web (WWW) in terms of the need for a general-purpose markup language. Ch 4, 5&6 Week 2 Assignment LO2: Draw conclusions
about the power and advantages of XML that have made it the global standard for enterprise data exchange. LO3: Compare and contrast Data Type Definitions (DTD) and XML Schemas. 3 Processing LO3: Compare and contrast Data Type Definitions (DTD) and XML Schemas. Ch 7 Forum Discussion Week 3 Assignment LO4: Evaluate Global Elements, NameSpaces, and XML Metadata Models (XHTML, DocBook, Resource Description Framework (RDF), and Really Simple Syndication (RSS). LO5: Interpret the need, the principles, and the power of XSL and XSLT to create new content, manage site layout, extract information, and for document format conversion. 4 Processing LO1: Examine the evolution of the World Wide Web (WWW) in terms of the need for a general-purpose markup language. Ch 8 Midterm Exam Week 4 Assignment LO2: Draw conclusions about the power and
advantages of XML that have made it the global standard for enterprise data exchange. LO3: Compare and contrast Data Type Definitions (DTD) and XML Schemas. LO4: Evaluate Global Elements, NameSpaces, and XML Metadata Models (XHTML, DocBook, Resource Description Framework (RDF), and Really Simple Syndication (RSS). LO5: Interpret the need, the principles, and the power of XSL and XSLT to create new content, manage site layout, extract information, and for document format conversion. 5 Databases LO5: Interpret the need, the principles, and the power of XSL and XSLT to create new content, manage site layout, extract information, and for document format conversion. Ch 9 & 10 Forum Discussion LO6: Discuss the process for creating XML documents and apply this knowledge to develop XML and DTD documents.
LO7: Analyze the ability of XML to facilitate interapplication and inter-tier communications. LO8: Apply XSL and XSLT to standardize the look and feel across pages and to generate multiple formats of the same page. 6 Programming LO6: Discuss the process for creating XML documents and apply this knowledge to develop XML and DTD documents. Ch 11 & 12 Week 6 Assignment Online Exam LO7: Analyze the ability of XML to facilitate interapplication and inter-tier communications. LO8: Apply XSL and XSLT to standardize the look and feel across pages and to generate multiple formats of the same page. 7 Communication LO6: Discuss the process for creating XML documents and apply this knowledge to develop XML and DTD documents. Ch 13, 14, 15 &16 Forum Discussion LO7: Analyze the ability of XML to facilitate interapplication and inter-tier
communications. LO8: Apply XSL and XSLT to standardize the look and feel across pages and to generate multiple formats of the same page. 8 Display LO1: Examine the evolution of the World Wide Web (WWW) in terms of the need for a general-purpose markup language. Ch 17, 18, 19 Final Project/Assignment LO2: Draw conclusions about the power and advantages of XML that have made it the global standard for enterprise data exchange. LO3: Compare and contrast Data Type Definitions (DTD) and XML Schemas. LO4: Evaluate Global Elements, NameSpaces, and XML Metadata Models (XHTML, DocBook, Resource Description Framework (RDF), and Really Simple Syndication (RSS). LO5: Interpret the need, the principles, and the power of XSL and XSLT to create new content, manage site layout, extract information, and
for document format conversion. LO6: Discuss the process for creating XML documents and apply this knowledge to develop XML and DTD documents. LO7: Analyze the ability of XML to facilitate interapplication and inter-tier communications. LO8: Apply XSL and XSLT to standardize the look and feel across pages and to generate multiple formats of the same page. Policies Please see the student handbook to reference all University policies. Quick links to frequently asked question about policies are listed below. Drop/Withdrawal Policy Plagiarism Policy Extension Process and Policy. Academic Services ONLINE LIBRARY RESEARCH CENTER & LEARNING RESOURCES The Online Library Resource Center is available to enrolled students and faculty from inside the electronic campus. This is your starting point for access to online books, subscription periodicals, and Web resources that are designed to support your classes and generally not available through search engines on the open Web. In addition, the Center provides access to special learning
resources, which the University has contracted to assist with your studies. Questions can be directed to orc@apus.edu. Charles Town Library and Inter Library Loan: The University maintains a special library with a limited number of supporting volumes, collection of our professors publication, and services to search and borrow research books and articles from other libraries. Electronic Books: You can use the online library to uncover and download over 50,000 titles, which have been scanned and made available in electronic format. Electronic Journals: The University provides access to over 12,000 journals, which are available in electronic form and only through limited subscription services. Turnitin.com: Turnitin.com is a tool to improve student research skills that also detect plagiarism. Turnitin.com provides resources on developing topics and assignments that encourage and guide students in producing papers that are intellectually honest, original in thought, and clear in expression. This tool helps ensure a culture of adherence to the University's standards for intellectual honesty. Turnitin.com also reviews students' papers for matches with Internet materials and with thousands of student papers in its database, and returns an Originality Report to instructors and/or students. Smarthinking: Students have access to 10 free hours of tutoring service per year through Smarthinking. Tutoring is available in the following subjects: math (basic math through advanced calculus), science (biology, chemistry, and physics), accounting, statistics, economics, Spanish, writing, grammar, and more. Additional information is located in the Online Research Center. From the ORC home page, click on either the Writing Center or Tutoring Center and then click Smarthinking. All login information is available. Selected Bibliography Appendix A Professor Biography Dr. Jeff Wang - Dr. Jeff Wang received BS degree from Zhejiang University in 1991 and MS degree from Chinese Academy of Science in 1994. He received Ph.D. degree in Physics-based Modeling and Visual Computing from George Mason University in 1998. He is a senior member of ACM and a member of IEEE.
Appendix B Weekly Student Course Guide Week 1 What is XML?, Well-Formed XML Scope: This week you will learn about the evolution of XML, the difference between binary files and text files, opening an XML file in a browser, role of W3C in developing XML standards, and the usage of XML. We will also learn about the various XML parsers in the market, the rules to remember in creating a well formed XML document. We will also learn to create Elements, Attributes. Objectives: Successful students will be able to: 1. Draw conclusions about the evolution of the World Wide Web (WWW) in terms of the need for a general-purpose markup language 2. Analyze the history and evolution of markup languages 3. Evaluate the power and flexibility of XML that have made it the global standard for enterprise data exchange; discuss specific examples of standardization that involves XML 4. Evaluate organizations that have influenced, facilitated, and standardized XML (Refer Appendix A) 5. Differentiate between Binary files and Text files 6. Detect the architecture and the components of an XML document 7. Recognize the logical structure of an XML document 8. Evaluate the process involved in parsing XML documents 9. Review XML error handling and error messages 10. Draw conclusions about the guidelines and standards that facilitate the development of wellformed XML 11. Identify the process, the steps and the decision making, to develop and modifying XML documents Required Readings: Part I: Introducing XML Chapter 1. What is XML? Chapter 2. Well-Formed XML Chapter 3. XML Namespaces Supplemental Reading: None Turn-Ins: 1. Forums Introduction - Introduce yourself in Forums and respond to at least 2 of your classmates (Back to e-classroom Instructions)
2. Click on the Forums and Introduce Yourself links A. Click "REPLY TO THIS MESSAGE" and enter a short introductory paragraph about yourself, what you are majoring in and what you expect learn from this course. B. Click Reply C. Respond to 2 other student s introductions by clicking the Subthread link located beneath their answer D. Click the Submit button Professor Notes: Please refer to the professor notes posted in the online classroom. Week 2 XML Namespaces, Document Type Definitions Scope: This week we will learn about the concept of Namespaces which will make the definition associated with elements unique. We will learn to declare and use a Namespace and associate the Namespace with a URI. We will also learn about the Document Type Definitions used to validate the XML document. Objectives: Successful students will be able to: 1. Identify the need for Namespaces and discuss how it establishes a boundary for uniqueness 2. Explain the advantages of the default Namespace 3. Discuss problems that can arise by prefixing the Namespace to every occurrence of various elements 4. Discuss the ability of XML to facilitate inter-application and inter-tier communications 5. Differentiate between URL, URI and URN 6. Explain the need for the Document Type Definition (DTD) 7. Differentiate between internal and external DTD 8. Examine the process and the syntax for declaring Elements, Attributes, and Notations 9. Identify the process for creating XML documents 10. Develop and use XML and DTD documents Required Readings: Part II: Validation Chapter 4. Document Type Definitions Chapter 5. XML Schemas Chapter 6. Relax NG and Schematro Supplemental Reading: None Turn-Ins: 1. Forum Discussion: Discuss the advantages and disadvantages of using Document Type Definition (DTD). Discuss the advantages and need of having more than one Namespace defined. Professor Notes: Please review the www.w3c.org site for more information on Namespaces and DTD
Week 3 Extracting Data From XML Scope: This week you will learn about using the XML schemas which overcome the limitations of a DTD. We will also learn about the XPath which allows specific parts of an XML document to be processed. Objectives: Successful students will be able to: 1. Explain the disadvantages of using DTDs 2. Examine the W3C Recommendations for XML Schema 3. Identify the need for creating XML Schemas 4. Compare and contrast Data Type Definitions (DTD) and XML Schemas 5. Identify the various schema components 6. Use mixed content elements 7. Use empty element content 8. Explain the use of facets to define data precisely 9. Illustrate the ways of looking at an XML document, including the Xpath Data model 10. Identify XPath and how the components parts of XPath syntax fit together to allow you to navigate around the XPath data model 11. Identify the various XPath Axes 12. Identify and use XPath Functions 13. Examine the structure of XPath Expressions Required Readings: Part III: Processing Chapter 7. Extracting Data From XML Supplemental Reading: None Turn-Ins: Forum Discussion - Discuss the advantages and disadvantages of XML Schemas over XML Namespaces. Professor Notes: The mid term exam is next week. Please review the objectives carefully. Week 4 XSLT and Midterm Exam Scope: This week you will learn about XSLT which helps us in converting the XML files to different specified presentation formats and restructuring XML to fit the structures used in business. Objectives: Successful students will be able to: 1. Explain the need for XSLT 2. Identify the underlying principles when using XSL and XSLT to create new content, manage site layout, extract information, and convert document formats 3. Use XSLT to convert XML for presentations 4. Use XML for business to business data interchange using XSLT 5. Differentiate between XSLT and procedural languages
6. Identify various elements such as xsl:value-of, xsl:copy and use them to retrieve the values from the source tree 7. Explain and utilize XSLT variables and parameters 8. Apply XSL and XSLT to standardize the look and feel across pages and to generate multiple formats of the same page 9. Demonstrate knowledge of the course and weekly objectives for Weeks 1 through 4 by completing the Midterm Exam. Required Readings: Part III: Processing (Continue) Chapter 8. XSLT 1. Review all assigned readings to prepare for your Midterm Exam. Supplemental Reading: None Turn-Ins: 1. In Tests and Quizzes, complete the Midterm Exam. Professor Notes: 1. Please refer to the Professor Notes posted in the e-classroom 2. Midterm Exam Study Questions: Review all weekly objectives to prepare for the midterm exam. Week 5 XQuery- The XML Query language Scope: This week we will learn about the need for a query language named XQuery to query a XML file. We will learn to create new elements using element constructors. Objectives: Successful students will be able to: 1. Identify the need for a Xquery to complement languages as SQL and XSLT 2. Create new elements using element constructors in the process of using XQuery to query an XML document 3. Use different types of expressions in XQuery including the important FLWOR Required Readings: Part IV: Databases Chapter 9. XQUERY Chapter 10. XML and Databases Turn-Ins: 1. Forum Discussion Topic: Discuss the advantages of using XQuery vs. using SQL in querying XML data. 2. Participate in the discussion and respond to at least two of your colleagues Professor Notes:
1. Please refer to the Professor Notes posted in the e-classroom Week 6 The Document Object, Simple API for XML (SAX) and Online Exam Scope: This week we will learn about the XML Document object Model, often called XML DOM and how it can be manipulated in various ways. We will also learn about the Simple API for XML called SAX which can be used to manipulate XML documents which are a few giga bytes or more. Objectives: Successful students will be able to: 1. Explain the purpose of the XML Document Object Model 2. Recognize the development of the DOM specification developed by W3C 3. Identify XML DOM interfaces and Objects such as Nodes and Documents 4. Explain the process of adding and deleting elements and attributes from the XML Document Object Model 5. Recognize and perform the Manipulation of a DOM tree 6. Identify how the XML DOM is used in Infopath 2003 7. Identify the role of SAX in parsing XML documents 8. Recognize to trace the history and evolution of SAX 9. Demonstrate how to Download and Configure the SAX parser 10. Identify SAX events 11. Utilize the Error handling interface in SAX 12. Demonstrate knowledge of objectives for Weeks 5 and 6 by taking an Online Exam. Required Readings: Part V: Programming Chapter 11. Event-Driven Programming Chapter 12. LINQ to XML 1. Review all required readings for Weeks 5 and 6 to prepare for your online exam. Supplemental Reading: None Turn-In: 1. In Tests and Quizzes, complete the Online Exam. Professor Notes: 1. Please refer to the Professor Notes posted in the e-classroom. 2. Online Exam Study Questions: Review the Weekly Objectives for Weeks 5 and 6 to prepare for the exam. Week 7 Web Services, SOAP and WSDL Scope: This week we will lean about the web service which allows objects on one computer to call and make use of objects on other computer. We will also learn about the SOAP which
overcomes the problems faced by XML-RPC by enabling rich XML documents to be transferred easily between Systems. We will also learn about the Web Services Description Language (WSDL) which provides a standard way of describing where and how make requests to a SOAP based service Objectives: Successful students will be able to: 1. Explain the Remote Procedure Call (RPC) and discuss the other RPC protocols currently existing 2. Explain how web services can provide more flexibility than previous RPC protocols 3. Identify the working of XML-RPC 4. Demonstrate the need for the web services to use HTTP transfer protocol and how HTTP works under the hood. 5. Explain how SOAP can provide more flexibility than the previous RPC protocols 6. Illustrate the process of formating the SOAP messages 7. Differentiate between GET versus POST in an HTTP request 8. Describe a service using WSDL 9. Differentiate between various SOAP styles Required Readings: Part VI: Communication Chapter 13. RSS, ATOM, and Content Syndication Chapter 14. WEB Services Chapter 15. SOAP and WSDL Chapter 16. AJAX Supplemental Reading: None Turn-In: 1. Forum Discussion: Discuss what the definition of Web services is, and what the advantages of using Web services are. Professor Notes: Please refer to the Professor Notes posted in the e-classroom Week 8 XML in Publishing and Final Project/Assignment Scope: This week we will learn about the XForms which are intended to replace HTML forms. We will also learn how to collect the data from forms as well as Well-formed XML documents. Objectives: Successful students will be able to: 1. Identify the need for XForms 2. Recognize the advantages of XForms over the existing HTML forms technology 3. Explain how XForms model is created 4. Utilize XForms to improve existing HTML forms technology 5. Explain how you use W3CSchema, XPath, XML Namepsaces in XForms 6. Utilize W3CSchema, XPath, XML Namepsaces in XForms 7. Use the form control in XForms
8. Recognize the commercial alternatives to XForms in Industry 9. Demonstrate knowledge of all course and weekly objectives by completing the online Final Project/Assignment. Required Readings: Part VII: Display Chapter 17. XHTML and HTML 5 Chapter 18. Scalable Vector Graphics (SVG) Part VIII: Case Study Chapter 19. Case Study: XML in Publishing 1. Review all assigned readings to prepare for your Final Project/Assignment. Supplemental Reading: None Turn-Ins: 1. Complete the Final Project/Assignment. Professor Notes: 1. Please refer to the Professor Notes posted in the e-classroom 2. Final Project/Assignment Study Questions: Review all weekly objectives to prepare for the Project/Assignment.