Microsoft Course 2663 - Programming with XML in the Microsoft .NET Framework — A 3-Day Course

 Open Public Course Closed In-House Course

Course Synopsis

This three-day instructor-led his course teaches developers how to program with XML in the Microsoft .NET Framework in order to build Microsoft Windows or Web-based integrated applications that are easier to build, scalable, and flexible.

Course Objectives

On completion of this course, delegates should be able to:

• Explain how XML is integrated into the .NET Framework and the classes associated with XML in the .NET Framework.
• Parse and read XML in the .NET Framework.
• Write and validate an XML document.
• Manipulate cached XML documents in memory.
• Query XML documents.
• Transform XML documents.
• Create new XML schemas programmatically.

Intended Audience

This course is intended for:

• Programmers who build Web-based or Windows applications that access data
• Programmers who build Web services
• Programmers who build applications that access data stored as XML

This course is not recommended for developers who:

• Want to learn a programming language, such as Microsoft Visual Basic .NET or Microsoft Visual C#
• Want an introduction to XML and related technologies
• Want advanced-level information on developing XML-based applications
• Want to learn how to program by using Microsoft XML Core Services (MSXML), or how to program with XML in Microsoft Internet Explorer 6.0

Course Prerequisites

Before attending this course, students should have the following skills:

• Experience with programming languages such as Visual Basic .NET or Microsoft Visual C#.
• Experience using the Microsoft Visual Studio .NET developer environment.
• Experience building applications using the Extensible Stylesheet Language for Transformation (XSLT), XML Path Language (XPath), and XML schemas.

Microsoft Certified Professional Exams

There are no Microsoft Professional Exams associated with this course.

Course Materials

The student kit includes a comprehensive workbook and other necessary materials for this class.The following software is provided for use in class:

• Microsoft Windows XP, Professional Edition
• Microsoft Visual Studio.NET Enterprise Edition
• Microsoft Internet Information Server 5.0

Publicly scheduled dates, locations, and prices

Outline Course Contents

Introduction to XML in the .NET Framework

Take a closer look: Download Sample Module 1 (Portable Document Format, 918 KB).

This module introduces the use of XML in the .NET Framework to help you solve common business problems. XML is a standards-driven technology that is ideal for applications that use the Internet. Microsoft's implementation of World Wide Web Consortium (W3C) standards ensures that applications you develop with XML in .NET will successfully communicate with other W3C-compatible applications.

• Overview
• Course at a Glance
• Common Business Problems
• XML in the .NET Framework

Parsing XML

Take a closer look: Download Sample Module 2 (Portable Document Format, 990 KB).

This module discusses how to parse XML data from a file, string, or stream by using the XmlReader class. It also covers how to use the XmlTextReader to process XML as text, and how to use the XmlNodeReader to filter data by using an XPath expression and the object.

• Overview of XML Parsing
• Parsing XML Using XmlTextReader
• Creating a Custom Reader

Validating XML

This module gives an overview of XML Schema Definition (XSD) data types, and then covers how to use the Microsoft .NET Framework XML classes to perform XML schema validation. The lesson Advanced Validation teaches how to resolve external entities, how to validate XML fragments, and how to validate XML by using a Document Type Definition (DTD).

• Examining Schemas
• Validating XML While Parsing
• Advanced Validation

Writing XML

Writing XML is a central skill in developing XML-based applications. This module describes the .NET Framework classes that are used to write XML with or without namespaces. The module also explains how to control the format and validity of XML as it is being written.

• Overview of Generating XML Documents
• Writing XML
• Generating XML with Namespaces
• Controlling XML Format and Converting XML

Querying XML

This module explains the process of querying an XML document by using XPath. It explains how to write code to load an XML document, and how to create a navigation cursor by using an XPathNavigator object. It also explains how to create your query by using an XPathDocument object, and how to examine the result types. In addition, this module describes how to compile your query and evaluate your results.

• Introduction to Querying XML Using XPath
• Creating and Navigating a Document Cache
• Executing Your Query

Manipulating Cached XML

This module introduces the XML Document Object Model (XML DOM) and explains how to locate and manipulate XML by using the DOM.

• Introduction to the XML Document Object Model
• Navigating XML Using the DOM
• Creating New Nodes
• Modifying and Deleting Nodes

Transforming XML

This module explains the process of transforming XML documents. The module teaches the student how to apply an XSLT transformation to an XML document by using the .NET XML classes. It does not teach XSLT syntax or commands.

• Introduction to Transforming XML
• Programmng the XslTransform Class
• Extending XSLT Style Sheets

Serializing Objects as XML

This module provides students with the skills needed to create XML documents from the data contained within programmatic objects. This process is referred to as serialization and can be used to persist object data or to share object data between applications.

• Introduction to XML Serialization
• Serializing Objects Using XmlSerializer
• Controlling XML Serialization