Need to format XML documents for paginated presentation? Need to adapt the stylesheets that generate PDF from XML/DOCBOOK/DITA documents?

This course covers the role and utility of XML-FO. It provides an overview of every formatting object of the W3C Recommendation and highlights properties of interest in each. Attendees will learn to design and develop XSL-FO documents.

This course offers an intensive immersion into all aspects of formatting objects. Plenty of lab exercises offer attendees time to implement topics learned. This course offers to learn first hand from Mr G. Ken Holman, an internationally renowned trainer and expert that is participating at the forefront of XML standardization.

Audience

Users of applications that produce documents in an XML format and need to produce printed output. XML application
developers that want to produce printed output.

This is a course for both beginners and experts on XML-FO.

Course Contents

The following topics are covered in this course:

  • All aspects of XML-FO.
  • The relation between XSLT and XSL-FO.
  • The semantics of paginated output.
  • Publicly and commercially available formatting tools.
  • Page set-up, page sequences, page regions.
  • Essential page constructs: List, Graphics, Leaders and Links.
  • Tables in the document.
  • Header and Footers.
  • Page numbers and page number citations.
  • Floating constructs, Foot notes and Containers.
  • Bookmarks and Index objects.
  • Keeps and breaks.
  • Interactive objects.
  • Table of contents (TOC) and Indexes.
  • XML source tree traversal.

Prerequisites

Basic knowledge of using the Windows or Linux operating system in order to run the exercise environment.

Good understanding of XML concepts and the proficiency to write well-formed XML syntax.

Basic knowledge of XSLT and XPATH Syntax.

Format

  • A 3 day instructor-lead presentation delivered by an acknowledged expert of the subject matter.
  • This is an intensive class running 7 to 9 hours per day including the exercises, with homework assigned each night.
  • Hands-on lab exercises are included to help understand the learned information.

Course Materials

An English language student guide in print with all presentation slides and hand-on lab exercises that implement the skills learned. (optional)

The student guide is also available to students in PDF format.

Language

The course presentation and materials are in English only.

Course Level

This course is technical in nature: level 4 (of 5).

Equipment

Classroom is equipped with PC hardware. Systems are loaded with Windows. Linux is available in a VM environment. Student chooses preferred environment. 1 student per machine.

Students can choose to run the exercises and the PDF handouts on their own laptops if they wish.

Prerequisite course

Attendees may also be interested in CS140 Practical Transformation using XSLT and XPATH as a separately orderable
hands-on class that is scheduled to precede this class.