XPath, XLink, XPointer, and XML: A Practical Guide to Web Hyperlinking and Transclusion By Erik Wilde, David Lowe Publisher : Addison Wesley Pub Date : July 23, 2002 ISBN : 0-201-70344-0 Pages : 304 The combination of Extensible Markup Language (XML) and its related interlinking standards bring a range of exciting possibilities to the realm of Internet content management This practical reference book documents these critical standards, shifting theory into practice for today's developers who are creating tomorrow's useful, efficient, and information-rich applications and Web sites Blending advanced reference material with practical guidelines, this authoritative guide presents a historical overview, current developments, and future perspectives in three detailed sections Part I provides a conceptual framework highlighting current and emerging linking technologies, hypermedia concepts, and the rationale behind the "open" Web of tomorrow Part II covers the specifics behind the emerging core standards, and then Part III examines how these technologies can be applied and how the concepts can be put to efficient use within the world of Web site management and Web publishing Table of Both detailed and authoritative, this book presents the most • Contents thorough documentation of XML's linking standards available, and it examines how today's enabling technologies are likely to change the Web of tomorrow Topics covered in-depth include: Hypermedia concepts and alternatives to the Web XML Namespaces, XML Base, XInclude, XML Information Set, XHTML, and XSLT XPath, XLink, and XPointer concepts, strengths, and limitations Emerging tools, applications, and environments Migration strategies, from conventional models to more sophisticated linking techniques Future perspectives on the XPath, XLink, and XPointer standards 777 Copyright List of Figures List of Tables Foreword Preface Purpose of the Book The Book's Audience The Book's Content Acknowledgments About the Authors Introduction Information Linking The Web XML Conclusions The Web We Want Chapter 1 Current Technology 1.1 The Internet Environment 1.2 The World Wide Web 1.3 Information Linking in the WWW 1.4 Conclusions Chapter 2 Hypermedia Concepts and Alternatives to the Web 2.1 What is Hypermedia? 2.2 Hypermedia Concepts 2.3 Usage Scenarios: Hypermedia Support for Information Utilization 2.4 Conclusions Chapter 3 Conceptual Viewpoint 3.1 References Versus Links 3.2 Resource Identification: URL, URI, and URN 3.3 Persistence of Identifiers and References 3.4 Third-Party Links and Linkbases 3.5 Multi-Ended Links 3.6 Generic Links 3.7 Typed Links 3.8 Conclusions The Web's New Look Chapter 4 Related Technologies HTML as Common Content Format HTTP as Protocol URL as Resource Identification 4.1 XML Core Standards 4.2 XML Namespaces 4.3 XML Base 4.4 XML Inclusions 4.5 XML Information Set 4.6 Extensible Hypertext Markup Language 4.7 Extensible Stylesheet Language 4.8 Resource Description Framework 4.9 Conclusions Chapter 5 XML Path Language 5.1 General Model 5.2 Location Paths 5.3 Expressions 5.4 Functions 5.5 Examples 5.6 Future Developments 5.7 Conclusions Chapter 6 XML Pointer Language 6.1 General Model 6.2 XPointer Forms 6.3 Functions 6.4 Using XPointers 6.5 Future Developments 6.6 Conclusions Chapter 7 XML Linking Language 7.1 Embedding Links into XML Documents 7.2 Link Types and Element Types 7.3 Attributes 7.4 Interpretation of XLinks 7.5 Usage 7.6 The Future of XLink 7.7 Conclusions Weaving the Web We Want Chapter 8 Authoring Aspects 8.1 Practical Issues 8.2 Emerging Support for XLink and XPointer 8.3 Development Tools 8.4 Authoring Approaches 8.5 Conclusions Chapter 9 Transitioning to a New Model 9.1 Alternative Approaches 9.2 Example Strategies 9.3 Content Negotiation 9.4 Migration of Content 9.5 Building New Sites 9.6 Conclusions References Copyright Many of the designations used by manufacturers and sellers to distinguish their products are claimed as trademarks Where those designations appear in this book, and Addison-Wesley was aware of a trademark claim, the designations have been printed with initial capital letters or in all capitals The authors and publisher have taken care in the preparation of this book, but make no expressed or implied warranty of any kind and assume no responsibility for errors or omissions No liability is assumed for incidental or consequential damages in connection with or arising out of the use of the information or programs contained herein The publisher offers discounts on this book when ordered in quantity for bulk purchases and special sales For more information, please contact: U.S Corporate and Government Sales (800) 382-3419 corpsales@pearsontechgroup.com For sales outside of the U.S., please contact: International Sales (317) 581-3793 international@pearsontechgroup.com Visit Addison-Wesley on the Web: www.awprofessional.com Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data Wilde, Erik XPath, XLink, XPointer, and XML : a practical guide to web hyperlinking and transclusion / Erik Wilde, David Lowe p cm Includes bibliographical references and index (alk paper) Web site development Hypertext systems XML (Document markup language) 4 World Wide Web I Lowe, David II Title TK5105.88.W546 2002 005.2'70 dc21 200206566 Copyright © 2003 by Pearson Education, Inc All rights reserved No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted, in any form, or by any means, electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording, or otherwise, without the prior consent of the publisher Printed in the United States of America Published simultaneously in Canada For information on obtaining permission for use of material from this work, please submit a written request to: Pearson Education, Inc Rights and Contracts Department 75 Arlington Street, Suite 300 Boston, MA 02116 Fax: (617) 848-7047 Text printed on recycled paper 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10—CRS—0605040302 First printing, July 2002 List of Figures 1.1 Basic linking components 1.2 Implementing a multiple-source link in HTML 2.1 Simple Web link 2.2 Dynamic Web link 2.3 Generic link (using a simplification of the Webcosm server) 2.4 Message passing in the Microcosm link service architecture 2.5 Structural links (using a simplification of Hyperwave) 2.6 Example Hyperwave Web page containing structural links 2.7 Spatial hypertext 2.8 VIKI screen dump 4.1 Example XML Infoset tree 5.1 Document order of XPath nodes 5.2 Example XPath node tree 5.3 XPath axes ancestor, ancestor-or-self, child, and descendant 5.4 XPath axes descendant-or-self, following, following-sibling, and parent 5.5 XPath axes preceding, preceding-sibling, and self 6.1 Snapshot of W3C's technical reports page 6.2 Container nodes, node points, and character points 7.1 Inline extended link 7.2 Inline extended link with arcs 7.3 Out-of-line extended link 7.4 Out-of-line extended link with arcs 7.5 XLink and linkbases List of Tables 4.1 XML Infoset Information Items 5.1 Overview of XPath Axes 5.2 XPath Abbreviations 5.3 Overview of XPath Operators and Their Priorities 5.4 Overview of XPath Functions 6.1 Overview of XPointer Functions 6.2 XPointer Character Escaping (Example 1) 6.3 XPointer Character Escaping (Example 2) 7.1 Relation Between XLink Link and Element Types 7.2 XLink Element Type Relationships 7.3 Attribute Use Patterns for XLink Element Types ... Come learn about new ways to link and to navigate that are now ready for "worldwide" application, and enjoy the cake! David G Durand Preface The Web has been growing and evolving at a phenomenal rate since its... Wilde, Erik XPath, XLink, XPointer, and XML : a practical guide to web hyperlinking and transclusion / Erik Wilde, David Lowe p cm Includes bibliographical references and index (alk paper) Web site development... purpose and application to hypertext clearly explained by authors and researchers who really understand them You may have already read the intentionally terse language of some of the many standards defining the Web and wondered, "Why does the standard say to do things this way?"