Course Description

This course is designed to introduce students to the Extensible Markup Language (XML). This introduction includes creating valid, well-formed XML documents, applying the Extensible Style Language (XSL), incorporating XLinks and XPointers, and using some of the current applications of XML. Topics include Document Type Definition (DTD) templates, Cascading Style Sheets, XSL-Transformation and XSL-Formatting Objects style sheets, the use of namespaces and applications of XML that are currently being used in the marketplace.
Prerequisite: CA272 or consent of department. Three hours lecture/discussion each week. 3 semester hours.

Course Objectives

The student who successfully completes this course will be able to:

1. Describe the basic processes available to validate and format a well-formed XML document
2. Create a well-formed XML document
3. Identify an underlying data structure and develop an efficient definition for capturing the data
4. Use entities and attributes when developing a DTD to effectively track key data
5. Create XSL-T style sheets to modify the structure and output format of the XML document
6. Create XSL-FO style sheets to modify the format of an XML document
7. Use namespaces to create multiple tags with the same name, but different origins
8. Identify existing applications, find the DTD and create a valid XML document for that application

Course Materials

The text is “XML Comprehensive” by Patrick Carey. Several floppy disks or a Zip disk will be required if you plan to use school computer labs.

Attendance Policy

As a distance-learning course, you are expected to check the class web sites at least twice once a week, and your e-mail at least twice a week. Assignment due dates are firm; please do not ask for extensions. (Late work will be penalized five points.)

Prerequisites

CA272 “Web Site Development with XHTML” or consent of department.

Student Conduct

The student code of conduct is outlined on pages 95 - 124 of the 2002 – 2004 Student Handbook. In part it states, “The College believes in the premise that students are adults who are responsible for their own actions and who should be free to pursue their educational objectives in an environment that promotes learning, protects the integrity of the academic process, and protects the College community.”

Grading Policy and Procedure

Grading will be based on tutorials, projects, a midterm, and a final. The tutorials and projects will be taken straight from the book, and explained in the essays. They should be typed or posted to the college’s server (as appropriate). The midterm and final will be drawn from the reading and essay material, are open book, and must be taken in a Montgomery College Assessment Center. The projects and tutorials are due at 10:00 a.m. of the day posted below; late assignments will be penalized five points.

The grading is allocated as follows:

The following distribution of points will be used to determine final grades:

Lecture Topics and Schedule of Reading Assignments

Project Details