Contents
Overview 1
Lesson: Metadata and XML Processing 2
Lesson: XML Processing Technologies 6

Module 4: Technologies
for Handling XML Data
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file 2500A_04.ppt

To prepare for this module:
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Read all of the materials for this module.
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Read the modules on DOM, XPath, XSL and XSLT, and XQuery.
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Be ready to compare and contrast the uses of the technologies that are
discussed in this chapter.

Presentation:
45 Minutes
Required Materials
Preparation Tasks
iv Module 4: Technologies for Handling XML Data Module Strategy
This is an overview module. The instructional strategy depends on the quality
of your lecture. Be prepared to carefully and quickly explain the ideas presented
here. You have less than an hour to complete this module, so present each slide
without lingering on any particular topic. The modules that follow this one
discuss each issue in more depth.
Use the following strategy to present this module:
!


Module 4: Technologies for Handling XML Data 1 Overview
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Metadata and XML Processing
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XML Processing Technologies

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This module describes several interdependent technologies. You use them to:
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Query an Extensible Markup Language (XML) document.
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Change the content of an XML document.
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Change the structure of an XML document.

This module will help you choose which technologies to apply in different
circumstances.
After completing this module, you will be able to:
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Identify the appropriate technology for the task that requires you to
manipulate XML data.
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Module 4: Technologies for Handling XML Data 3 What Is XML Metadata?
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Metadata is data about data
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Humans use lexical metadata to understand
the markup
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Consists of the meaning of the element and attribute
names
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Software uses structural metadata
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Consists of the element hierarchy and the presence of
attributes, comments, or CDATA sections
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DOM and XPath model structural metadata as a tree

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Metadata is a general computing term that means data about data.
Consider a recipe for making French bread that is written on an index card. The
data is the recipe. The metadata is the name of the person who wrote the recipe
on the index card, where the card is located, or any other information about the
recipe.

DOM and XPath both process XML by creating a tree representation of its
structural metadata. The structural metadata is represented as a tree of nodes.
Modeling XML data as a tree of nodes creates groups of related data that you
can use to efficiently locate, query, and change specific content.
DOM and XPath: XML
metadata as a tree