XML: Document Object Model (DOM 1.0)

Course specifications

Course number: 077 944

Software version number: 1.0

Course length: 1 day

Hardware/software required to run this course

• A Pentium-based PC, 133 MHz or higher.
• 32 MB RAM minimum (64 MB RAM recommended).
• Windows 95/98 or Windows NT Workstation.
• A text editor; for example, Notepad or Allaire's HomeSite.
• MS Access 2000.
• MS Internet Explorer 5.0 or higher.
• MSXML 3.0 Parser or higher.
• NT 4.0 Option Pack with Microsoft Personal Web Server 4.0, ASP 2.0, and ADO 2.5 or higher (for Lesson 6 only).

Course description

Overview: This course introduces the XML Document Object Model's level 1.0 specification and the Microsoft implementation of it. The DOM specification is maintained by the W3C (World Wide Web Consortium) so this course will present the core DOM as they've defined it. Microsoft, a leader in implementing the DOM in the real world, has provided numerous extensions to the core DOM, and this course will present those as well. It assumes knowledge of the basics of the emerging XML family of technologies, although a brief review is included. Students will learn the basic objects, properties, and methods of the DOM, the role the DOM plays in XML application programming, how to use the DOM in basic XML programming examples, and where the DOM seems to be headed in future versions. Example client-side code will be used for the most part, although some server-side examples using ASP and ADO will also be presented (Lesson 6). Code examples are given in VBScript, but some examples are also provided JavaScript.

Prerequisites: This course will review the emerging world of XML technologies. However, some familiarity with basic XML concepts would be helpful. Therefore, you should take the following courses, or have equivalent knowledge, before taking this course:

• HTML 4.0: Level 1
• HTML 4.0: Level 2
• Introduction to Programming
• Introduction to XML
• XML DTD
• XML Schemas

A thorough knowledge of VBScript, JavaScript, DHTML, ASP, and ADO/SQL concepts and syntax would also be very helpful, but is not required for this course, as the code examples used are very simple. Code examples are given in the book are given in VBScript, and versions of some of the examples are provided in JavaScript as well, so a total lack of familiarity with these languages could slow down some students.

Delivery method: Instructor-led, group-paced, classroom-delivery learning model with structured hands-on activities.

Benefits: Students will learn the basics of the XML DOM (Document Object Model). The base objects, high-level objects, and Microsoft parser objects will all be covered. In each case, the properties, methods, collections, and events of each object will be presented and discussed. Because Microsoft's implementation of the XML DOM provides numerous valuable extensions, these will also be presented. Hands-on tasks with some of these objects and their members will demonstrate how to program with the XML DOM.

Target student: This course is for anyone already introduced to the basics of XML and its related technologies, and who is interested in XML programming. Such a student should also have experience as a Web developer, using both client-side and server-side scripting, and an understanding of basic programming concepts.

What's next: This course is a part of a series of courses that provide the foundation of XML technologies. After having learned about DTDs and Schemas, XSL/XSLT, XML DOM, and XLink/XPointer/XPath, students will be well-poised to start integrating XML support into their Web applications using ASP, ADO, Java, various database management systems, ColdFusion, JSP, and so on.

XML: Document Object Model (DOM 1.0)

Performance-based objectives

Lesson objectives help students become comfortable with the course, and also provide a means to evaluate learning. Upon successful completion of this course, students will be able to:

• Name and describe the purposes of the various parts of the emerging world of XML related technologies.
• Understand and assess the nature of the XML DOM and model various kinds of traditional data as DOM hierarchies.
• Use the specific methods and properties of the numerous higher-level objects of the XML DOM, such as the Document, Element, and Attribute objects.
• Use additional Microsoft extensions such as the ParseError and HttpRequest objects.
• Use the XML DOM in conjunction with simple examples of ASP and ADO scripts.

XML: Document Object Model (DOM 1.0)

Course content

Lesson 1: The Emerging World of XML

• The Rise of XML
• The XML Landscape

Lesson 2: The General Concept of the XML DOM

• General XML DOM Concepts
• The XML DOM's Interfaces
• The XML DOM's Node Levels

Lesson 3: The XML DOM Base Objects

• The Node Object
• The NodeList Object
• The NamedNodeMap Object

Lesson 4: The XML DOM Higher-Level Objects

• The Document Object
• The Element and Attribute Objects

Lesson 5: IE5 Parser Objects and Other Microsoft Extensions

• The ParseError Object
• The HttpRequest Object
• Additional Microsoft Extensions

Lesson 6: Using the XML DOM on the Server

• Using the XML DOM with ASP
• Working with XML and ASP/ADO