Skip to main content

By clicking Submit, you agree to the developerWorks terms of use.

The first time you sign into developerWorks, a profile is created for you. Select information in your developerWorks profile is displayed to the public, but you may edit the information at any time. Your first name, last name (unless you choose to hide them), and display name will accompany the content that you post.

All information submitted is secure.

  • Close [x]

The first time you sign in to developerWorks, a profile is created for you, so you need to choose a display name. Your display name accompanies the content you post on developerworks.

Please choose a display name between 3-31 characters. Your display name must be unique in the developerWorks community and should not be your email address for privacy reasons.

By clicking Submit, you agree to the developerWorks terms of use.

All information submitted is secure.

  • Close [x]

Select a language:

  • Close [x]
  • Close [x]

Automate XML file updates, Part 1: XML process introduction and conversion stylesheet creation

A methodology using XSLT, Apache Ant, and Java SE

Tom Coppedge (tcoppedg@us.ibm.com), developerWorks Software Engineer, IBM
Tom Coppedge has been a member of the developerWorks design team since the site was launched in 1999. Tom's focus includes XML & XSLT strategy, information architecture, and site design. He joined IBM in 1988 after receiving a degree in Information Systems & Operations Management from the University of North Carolina at Greensboro.

Summary:  This is the first part of a tutorial series that describes a method for automating updates to a library of XML files so that they all conform to an updated XML schema. In Part 1, you learn the steps in the entire process and then create an XSLT stylesheet to update the XML files. In Part 2, you learn how to install, configure, and run Apache Ant and Java SE to iteratively transform each of your XML files based on the updates specified in your XSLT stylesheet.

View more content in this series

Date:  17 Aug 2006
Level:  Intermediate
PDF:  A4 and Letter (98 KB | 17 pages)Get Adobe® Reader®

Activity:  10407 views
Comments:  

In conclusion

In Part 1 of this tutorial, I introduce the steps involved in updating many XML instance documents using XSLT conversion stylesheets and Apache Ant. You reviewed a method to determine the XML instance document updates. Lastly, you translated those update requirements into a conversion stylesheet composed of individual conversion templates that perform the XML updates.

In Part 2, you'll install Apache Ant and Java SE. You'll create the XML-based instructions that Ant uses to transform existing XML instance documents into new ones (using our conversion stylesheet). For an added bonus, I'll cover XML file validation within the Ant process, as well as transforming the newly-updated XML files into HTML.

Sample schemas, XML instance documents, and a conversion stylesheet are available at Downloads.

Also be sure to review Resources for more detailed information and links to XML topics, Ant, Java SE, and related developerWorks information on these topics.

Acknowledgments

First, thanks to our own Doug Tidwell who pioneered this process here at developerWorks several years ago. We've made some tweaks along the way, but the basic idea was his and we are far better off for it. Doug's Web services contributions and XML contributions to developerWorks have proven very popular.

Secondly, thanks go to the members of the developerWorks schema and stylesheet development team. Elizabeth, Frank, Jack, and Leah, your willingness to divide and conquer all of the schema and stylesheet work means more than you know. Janet and Kristin, we're grateful that you've joined the team; the list of to-do's never seems to dwindle, no matter how hard we try!

I also want to thank our management team. Your encouragement to think creatively, along with the flexibility you continue to allow, makes working for developerWorks the best job in IBM.

7 of 10 | Previous | Next

Comments

Back to top

Close [x]

Help: Update or add to My dW interests

What's this?

This little timesaver lets you update your My developerWorks profile with just one click! The general subject of this content (AIX and UNIX, Information Management, Lotus, Rational, Tivoli, WebSphere, Java, Linux, Open source, SOA and Web services, Web development, or XML) will be added to the interests section of your profile, if it's not there already. You only need to be logged in to My developerWorks.

And what's the point of adding your interests to your profile? That's how you find other users with the same interests as yours, and see what they're reading and contributing to the community. Your interests also help us recommend relevant developerWorks content to you.

View your My developerWorks profile

Return from help

Close [x]

Help: Remove from My dW interests

What's this?

Removing this interest does not alter your profile, but rather removes this piece of content from a list of all content for which you've indicated interest. In a future enhancement to My developerWorks, you'll be able to see a record of that content.

View your My developerWorks profile

Return from help

static.content.url=http://www.ibm.com/developerworks/js/artrating/
SITE_ID=1
Zone=Web development, XML
ArticleID=153748
TutorialTitle=Automate XML file updates, Part 1: XML process introduction and conversion stylesheet creation
publish-date=08172006
author1-email=tcoppedg@us.ibm.com
author1-email-cc=

Table of contents

7 of 10 | Previous | Next

Local resources

Tags

Help
Use the search field to find all types of content in My developerWorks with that tag.

Use the slider bar to see more or fewer tags.

Popular tags shows the top tags for this particular content zone (for example, Java technology, Linux, WebSphere).

My tags shows your tags for this particular content zone (for example, Java technology, Linux, WebSphere).

Use the search field to find all types of content in My developerWorks with that tag. Popular tags shows the top tags for this particular content zone (for example, Java technology, Linux, WebSphere). My tags shows your tags for this particular content zone (for example, Java technology, Linux, WebSphere).

 

Dig deeper into Web development on developerWorks

Try IBM PureSystems. No charge.

IBM PureSystems on a kaleideoscope background

Experience today!

Get started with the cloud-based trial and pattern development kit.

Share this page:

  • Close [x]

Follow developerWorks:

  • Close [x]