Evergreen Valley College - CIT 041X - Introduction to XML

General Information

3 Units | CR Prerequisite: CIT040 | Corequisite: CIT200

Objectives

• Write well-formed and valid XML.
• Read and create Document Type Definitions (DTDs).
• Read and create Relax NG validation schemas.
• Understand the concept of namespaces.
• Use Cascading Style Sheets to display XML.
• Create XSLT transformations to convert XML to XHTML and XSL Formatting Objects
• Understand the concepts of Document Object Model (DOM) and Simple API for XML (SAX) parsers

Class Description

An introduction to the XML notation and XML tools. We’ll be working with established markup languages (XML applications) as well as markup languages of our own invention.

Process

This class has a lecture and lab section. The instructor will be present to assist you during the lab. You may work on assignments in the lab or use your own computers. Lab attendance is an excellent opportunity for personal instruction. In order to complete assignments, you may also need to work on them outside the scheduled laboratory periods.

Assignments

You will be assigned several programming projects ranging from light to moderate complexity. For each assignment, you will email the solution to david.eisenberg@evc.edu. Your files must be named with your last name, first name, and assignment number. Thus, the XML file for assignment three from Fred Bloggs might be named bloggs_fred_3.xml. Do not put blanks or capital letters in your file names. A file named prog3.xml will not be accepted. Assignments will be graded on functionality, organization, and readability.

Exams

You will have one midterm project, one midterm test, and one final; there may be pop quizzes as well. You may use the book and your class notes on these tests. The comprehensive final exam will be on the last day of class, 20 Dec 2007. It covers topics that include, but are not limited to: validating XML, creating Relax NG schema fragments, determining the value of XPath expressions and XSLT transformations, and writing XPath expressions and XSLT transformations.

Grading

The work on the tests and assignments will be weighted and combined to calculate your final grade as follows:

Weight Labs: 60% Midterms: 20% Final Exam: 20%

Grading: 90% and above A 80% B 70% C 60% D Less than 60% F

Attendance

You are required to attend classes. If you decide to drop the class, it is your responsibility to do so. Five absences may cause you to be dropped - please notify the instructor if you have any extenuating circumstances. If you know of an absence in advance, please send me an email. As of the printing of this green sheet, the deadline dates for dropping a class without a “W” are 28 September (in person) and 29 September (WebReg or StaReg). The deadline dates for dropping a class with a “W” are 21 November (in person) and 24 November (WebReg or StaReg).

If you are late to a class session, you will miss the material presented before you arrived.

Policies

Assignments are to be submitted prior to the end of the class lab period on the date due. If turned in late, you will receive reduced credit; one letter grade per class session late up to two sessions late. Missed tests or labs will receive zero credit. The final exam is required. Discussion about assignments is encouraged, but you must each do your own work. Cheating and plagiarism will be met with an F in the course. See the EVC catalog for details on the College Honesty Policy as well as student disciplinary and grievance procedures (pages 166-169).

If you receive services from DSP or have a disability for which you need special accommodations, please let me know as soon as possible.

When in the computer lab, please do not eat. (crumbs + keyboard = bad) For your safety, do not drink in the lab. (water + electricty = bad)

Required Text

XML for the World Wide Web, Elizabeth Castro (Peachpit Press) ISBN 0-201-71098-6

Recommended Resource

XML in a Nutshell (2nd ed.), Elliotte Rusty Harold & W. Scott Means (O'Reilly & Associates) ISBN 0-596-00292-0

Course Outline

Note: the pace at which we will cover these subjects may deviate from this printed schedule. Your mileage may vary.