XML/XSL commands and parameters reference book

What I have found, is that many books on XML have some portion of the book devoted to XSLT or XSL. It is really a hit or miss proposition that you will find useful information. I would not buy a book without being able to look through it and look at the amount of information devoted to XSL. Unfortunately, much of these books are about creating XML and we don't really need that information.

I rely heavily on Google Search and also look at many of the example reports delivered with the product.

I will look at the books I have and post a list of those that have been useful for me. Books will be added as I have time:

• Teach Yourself XML in 21 Days - SAMS (www.samspublishing.com) Section on XSL has some good info, but is small compared to the rest of the content.
• XML Pocket Consultant - Microsoft Press - Slightly less than 50% of book is dedicated to XSL. Easily my best book on XSL.
• XML For Dummies - I couldn't resist - OK, but glad I paid a clearance price.
• XML: The Complete Reference - www.osborne.com - a pretty good chapter on XSL ($3.99 for $49.99 book.)
• XML Step by Step - Microsoft Press - not really worth the $9.99 I paid for a $49.99 book. Too little XSL.
• XML Black Book - www.coriolis.com - probably tied with XML The Complete Reference for #2 in my collection.

I forgot to mention - as XML is less popular subject matter, you may find books at clearance prices. My $29.99 XML Pocket Consultant cost me a whopping $5.99, as did the TY XML in 21 Days. Makes buying a book for 20% of its content much easier to swallow.

Feel free to post more questions with specifics and you might get lucky. ; )

There are two PDF files explaining some possibilities in the XML Data folder and I also believe there is some information in the Release Notes (or some other technical docs) Wiki pages - possibly even a video.

Start by modifying a copy of an existing report to add or remove a column.

And get Notepad++ and in its Add-in Manager, configure it to get the XML Tools. Get the newest version.

Good Luck!

CaddCop, thanks for your response - it's very helpful. You are absolutely right - it's good to start by modifying an existing report and this my way of working at the moment. :)

I was looking recently for a xsl name for rail Equilibrium Constant and it appeared this constant is not coded in xsl... it needs to be calculated... The most important constant for all kinematic values is not achievable directly. Funny... :)

Anyway, I will look for some bargains on books you have listed and probably will contact you if I have a difficult question. ;)

Cheers.

XML, XSL and XPath

Some of the best books on XML and related technologies such as XSL (a.k.a. XSLT) are published by O'Reilly.

Here are some …

• XSLT
• XSLT Cookbook
• Learning XSLT

The first in the list, author Doug Tidwell, contains reference sections.

Of course, there's plenty of help and tools on the web.

Regards, Jon Summers
LA Solutions

Cheers!

Of course, xml/xsl is not the primary problem. The problem is to get anything written for xsl in InRoads, eg. a list of all commands and parameters (@length, @radius, etc...).

Have you read this two documents in the InRoads...\XML Data\en Path:

Creating XML Lookup Table Style Sheets.pdf

Creating ASCII Output Style Sheets.pdf

I can find them with my IR 8.11 Installation.