Python & XML

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Python & XML

By Christopher A. Jones, Fred L. Drake Jr

Publisher: O'Reilly Media

Released: December 2001

Pages: 384

If you are a Python programmer who wants to incorporate XML into your skill set, this is the book for you. Python has attracted a wide variety of developers, who use it either as glue to connect critical programming tasks together, or as a complete cross-platform application development language. Yet, because it is object-oriented and has powerful text manipulation abilities, Python is an ideal language for manipulating XML.

Python & XML gives you a solid foundation for using these two languages together. Loaded with practical examples, this new volume highlights common application tasks, so that you can learn by doing. The book starts with the basics then quickly progresses to complex topics, like transforming XML with XSLT, querying XML with XPath, and working with XML dialects and validation. It also explores the more advanced issues: using Python with SOAP and distributed web services, and using Python to create scalable streams between distributed applications (like databases and web servers).

The book provides effective practical applications, while referencing many of the tools involved in XML processing and Python, and highlights cross-platform issues along with tasks relevant to enterprise computing. You will find ample coverage of XML flow analysis and details on ways in which you can transport XML through your network.

Whether you are using Python as an application language, or as an administrative or middleware scripting language, you are sure to benefit from this book. If you want to use Python to manipulate XML, this is your guide.

Chapter 1 Python and XML
1. Key Advantages of XML
2. The XML Specifications
3. The Power of Python and XML
4. What Can We Do with It?
Chapter 2 XML Fundamentals
1. XML Structure in a Nutshell
2. Document Types and Schemas
3. Types of Conformance
4. Physical Structures
5. Constructing XML Documents
6. Document Type Definitions
7. Canonical XML
8. Going Beyond the XML Specification
Chapter 3 The Simple API for XML
1. The Birth of SAX
2. Understanding SAX
3. Reading an Article
4. Searching File Information
5. Building an Image Index
6. Converting XML to HTML
7. Advanced Parser Factory Usage
8. Native Parser Interfaces
Chapter 4 The Document Object Model
1. The DOM Specifications
2. Understanding the DOM
3. Python DOM Offerings
4. Retrieving Information
5. Changing Documents
6. Building a Web Application
7. Going Beyond SAX and DOM
Chapter 5 Querying XML with XPath
1. XPath at a Glance
2. Where Is XPath Used?
3. Location Paths
4. XPath Arithmetic Operators
5. XPath Functions
6. Compiling XPath Expressions
Chapter 6 Transforming XML with XSLT
1. The XSLT Specification
2. XSLT Processors
3. Defining Stylesheets
4. Using XSLT from the Command Line
5. XSLT Elements
6. A More Complex Example
7. Embedding XSLT Transformations in Python
8. Choosing a Technique
Chapter 7 XML Validation and Dialects
1. Working with DTDs
2. Validation at Runtime
3. The BillSummary Example
4. Dialects, Frameworks, and Workflow
5. What Does ebXML Offer?
Chapter 8 Python Internet APIs
1. Connecting Web Sites
2. Working with URLs
3. Opening URLs
4. Connecting with HTTP
5. Using the Server Classes
Chapter 9 Python, Web Services, and SOAP
1. Python Web Services Support
2. The Emerging SOAP Standard
3. Python SOAP Options
4. Example SOAP Server and Client
5. What About XML-RPC?
Chapter 10 Python and Distributed Systems Design
1. Sample Application and Flow Analysis
2. Understanding the Scope
3. Building the Database
4. Building the Profiles Access Class
5. Creating an XML Data Store
6. The XML Switch
7. Running the XML Switch
8. A Web Application

Appendix Installing Python and XML Tools
1. Installing Python
2. Installing PyXML
3. Installing 4Suite
Appendix XML Definitions
1. XML Definitions
Appendix Python SAX API
Appendix Python DOM API
1. DOMException
2. DOMImplementation
3. DocumentFragment
4. Document
5. Node
6. NodeList
7. NamedNodeMap
8. CharacterData
9. Attr
10. Element
11. Text
12. Comment
13. CDATASection
14. DocumentType
15. Notation
16. Entity
17. EntityReference
18. ProcessingInstruction
19. 4DOM Extensions
Appendix Working with MSXML3.0
1. Setting Up MSXML3.0
2. Basic DOM Operations
3. MSXML3.0 Support for XSLT
4. Handling Parsing Errors
5. MSXML3.0 Reference
Appendix Additional Python XML Tools
1. Pyxie
2. Python XML Tools
3. XML Schema Validator
4. Sab-pyth
5. Redfoot
6. XML Components for Zope
7. Online Resources
Colophon

Title:

Python & XML

By:

Christopher A. Jones, Fred L. Drake Jr

Publisher:

O'Reilly Media

Formats:

Print
Safari Books Online

Print:

December 2001

Pages:

384

Print ISBN:

978-0-596-00128-5

| ISBN 10:

0-596-00128-2

Colophon

Our look is the result of reader comments, our own experimentation, and feedback from distribution channels. Distinctive covers complement our distinctive approach to technical topics, breathing personality and life into potentially dry subjects. The animals on the cover of Python and XML are elephant shrews. Different types of elephant shrews are found throughout Africa, most residing along the coast. The elephant shrew's long nose, which resembles an elephant's trunk, is the source of its name. The shrew pokes this trunk under leaves and, with its even longer tongue, flicks food into its mouth. It feeds mostly on termites and ants, but also eats shoots, berries, and roots.

Elephant shrews have long, soft fur that is sandy brown on the surface, fading to pale orange or gray. Their bodies range from 3.7 to 4 inches in length, and their tails, 3.7 to 5 inches. They weigh between 1 and 1.7 ounces. Elephant shrews grow to full size in about 46 days, and leave their shelters anywhere from 18 to 36 days after birth. Because they mature and leave their nests so quickly, predators rarely invade the nests.

Most elephant shrews do not burrow, as their feet are not well adapted for digging, but instead find depressions in the ground in which to nest. As they settle into these depressions, they pull leaves and debris over their heads for cover. The elephant shrew is very territorial, as it is mainly a solitary animal. When others approach, the shrew will break into a sudden flurry of kicking, screaming, sparring, and snapping until it is alone once more. Mary Brady was the production editor and copyeditor for Python and XML. David Futato was the proofreader. Matt Hutchinson and Claire Cloutier provided quality control. Edith Shapiro and Camilla Ammirati provided production support. Johnna VanHoose Dinse wrote the index.

Emma Colby designed the cover of this book, based on a series design by Edie Freedman. The cover image is an original illustration from Mammalia. Emma Colby produced the cover layout with QuarkXPress 4.1, using Adobe's ITC Garamond font.

David Futato designed the interior layout. Mihaela Maier converted the files from Microsoft Word to FrameMaker 5.5.6, using tools created by Mike Sierra. The text font is Linotype Birka; the heading font is Adobe Myriad Condensed; and the code font is LucasFont's TheSans Mono Condensed. The illustrations that appear in the book were produced by Robert Romano and Jessamyn Read using Macromedia Free-Hand 9 and Adobe Photoshop 6. The tip and warning icons were drawn by Christopher Bing. This colophon was written by Linley Dolby.

Whenever possible, our books use a durable and flexible lay-flat binding.

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Customer Reviews

REVIEW SNAPSHOT®

by PowerReviews

oreilly Python & XML

3.7

(based on 3 reviews)

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Reviewed by 3 customers

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Displaying reviews 1-3

5/30/2010

(5 of 5 customers found this review helpful)

3.0

XML tools have moved on

By Kimo

from Auckland NZ

About Me Developer, Educator

Pros

Helpful examples
Well-written

Cons

Obsolete

Best Uses

Intermediate

Comments about oreilly Python & XML:

When I first bought this in 2005 it was very helpful, especially the examples using SAX.

However Frank Lundh has now written the Element Tree module which is much easier to use to parse and write XML in Python.

8/24/2004

(1 of 1 customers found this review helpful)

4.0

Great book with some flaws

By Anonymous

from Undisclosed

Comments about oreilly Python & XML:

I've learned a lot from this book. If you are going to use XML with Python this is the book to get. I do wish that the examples had been better debugged -- between figuring out Apache configuration to run the examples, errors in the examples, and lack of any CGI debugging code in the examples, it has been a rough road just to try the sample code. I wish there had been a one page summary of Apache config for Windows so that I could have saved the several hours spent searching the web for the correct configuration to start working with the book. Still, this is the book to get.

10/15/2002

(0 of 1 customers found this review helpful)

4.0

Python & XML Review

By Rajaram Ravi

from Undisclosed

Comments about oreilly Python & XML:

I am a starter with XML and this book starts with XML slowly and picks up speed with chapters SAX and DOM. Good are begineers as well as experienced person in XML. Examples are given appropriately. The only drawback is you should know python, since i already knew python i had no problem with this. Examples are quite good.

Displaying reviews 1-3

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Chapter 1 Python and XML

Key Advantages of XML

The XML Specifications

The Power of Python and XML

What Can We Do with It?

Chapter 2 XML Fundamentals

XML Structure in a Nutshell

Document Types and Schemas

Types of Conformance

Physical Structures

Constructing XML Documents

Document Type Definitions

Canonical XML

Going Beyond the XML Specification

Chapter 3 The Simple API for XML

The Birth of SAX

Understanding SAX

Reading an Article

Searching File Information

Building an Image Index

Converting XML to HTML

Advanced Parser Factory Usage

Native Parser Interfaces

Chapter 4 The Document Object Model

The DOM Specifications

Understanding the DOM

Python DOM Offerings

Retrieving Information

Changing Documents

Building a Web Application

Going Beyond SAX and DOM

Chapter 5 Querying XML with XPath

XPath at a Glance

Where Is XPath Used?

Location Paths

XPath Arithmetic Operators

XPath Functions

Compiling XPath Expressions

Chapter 6 Transforming XML with XSLT

The XSLT Specification

XSLT Processors

Defining Stylesheets

Using XSLT from the Command Line

XSLT Elements

A More Complex Example

Embedding XSLT Transformations in Python

Choosing a Technique

Chapter 7 XML Validation and Dialects

Working with DTDs

Validation at Runtime

The BillSummary Example

Dialects, Frameworks, and Workflow

What Does ebXML Offer?

Chapter 8 Python Internet APIs

Connecting Web Sites

Working with URLs

Opening URLs

Connecting with HTTP

Using the Server Classes

Chapter 9 Python, Web Services, and SOAP

Python Web Services Support

The Emerging SOAP Standard

Python SOAP Options

Example SOAP Server and Client

What About XML-RPC?

Chapter 10 Python and Distributed Systems Design

Sample Application and Flow Analysis

Understanding the Scope

Building the Database

Building the Profiles Access Class

Creating an XML Data Store

The XML Switch

Running the XML Switch

A Web Application

Appendix Installing Python and XML Tools

Installing Python

Installing PyXML

Installing 4Suite

Appendix XML Definitions

XML Definitions