M2663

Programming with XML in the Microsoft .NET Framework

Programming with XML in the Microsoft .NET

Framework M2663

Course Title: Programming with XML in the Microsoft .NET

Framework

Course Code: M2663
Version: A
Level: 400
Duration: 3 Days

Course Overview

The Programming with XML in the Microsoft .NET Framework M2663 instructor-led training course has been designed to teach developers how to programme 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.

Target Audience

Candidates who should consider attending the M2663 Microsoft training course are programmers who build: web-based or Windows applications that access data, web services and applications that access data stored as XML.

Please note that this course is not recommended for developers who want: to learn a programming language, such as Microsoft Visual Basic .NET or Microsoft Visual C#; an introduction to XML and related technologies; advanced-level information on developing XML-based applications; to learn how to programme by using Microsoft XML Core Services (MSXML), or how to programme with XML in Microsoft Internet Explorer 6.0.

Course Objectives

On successfully completing the M6236 course candidates will 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

Course Prerequisites

Candidates attending the M6234 Microsoft training course should have experience with: programming languages such as Visual Basic .NET or Microsoft Visual C#; using the Microsoft Visual Studio .NET developer environment and building applications using the Extensible Stylesheet Language for Transformation (XSLT), XML Path Language (XPath), and XML schemas.

Testing and Certification

There are currently no exams or Microsoft Certification directly associated to this course however this course may assist in preparing candidates for other exams that are closely associated with this technology.

Course Content

Module 1: Introduction to XML in the .NET Framework

In this module candidates will be introduced to the use of XML in the .NET Framework to help 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 developed with XML in .NET will successfully communicate with other W3C-compatible applications.

Lessons:

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

After completing this module, candidates will be able to:

• Explain how XML provides solutions to common business problems
• Discuss how Microsoft`s implementation of W3C standards for XML provides a framework for XML solutions to business problems
• Diagram XML support in the .NET Framework

Module 2: Parsing XML

In this module candidates will learn how parse XML data from a file, string, or stream by using the XmlReader class. The module 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.

Lessons:

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

Lab: Parsing XML

• Building an XML Web Service to Parse XML

After completing this module, candidates will be able to:

• Create a Stream object from an XML file
• Build a mutable string by using the StringBuilder object
• Handle errors in the form of XML
• Parse XML as text by using the XmlTextReader object
• Create a custom XmlReader object

Module 3: Validating XML

In this module candidates will get 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).

Lessons:

• Examining Schemas
• Validating XML While Parsing
• Advanced Validation

Lab: Validating XML

• Extend an XML Web Service to Validate XML

After completing this module, candidates will be able to:

• Instantiate an XML validating reader
• Associate one or more XML schemas with an XML validating reader
• Handle errors that result when a validating reader processes invalid XML
• Create an application that uses the .NET Framework XML classes and XML schemas to validate an XML fragment
• Resolve a Uniform Resource Identifier (URI) reference to a schema or DTD
• Create an application that uses the .NET Framework XML classes and an XSD schema or a DTD to validate well-formed XML

Module 4: Writing XML

In this module candidates will learn about 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.

Lessons:

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

Lab: Writing XML

• Building an XML Web Service to Write XML

After completing this module, candidates will be able to:

• Use the XmlTextWriter class to write well-formed XML
• Generate namespaces for elements and attributes
• Control indentation and other code format characteristics when generating XML
• Write XML that preserves characters that are normally represented by using escape characters

Module 5: Querying XML

In this module candidates will learn about the process of querying an XML document by using XPath. The module 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 a query by using an XPathDocument object, and how to examine the result types. In addition, this module describes how to compile a query and evaluate results.

Lessons:

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

Lab: Querying XML Documents Using XPath

• Creating and Loading an XML Data Cache
• Compiling and Executing Queries That Return Nodes
• Compiling and Executing Queries That Return Numbers
• Compiling and Executing Queries That Return Strings

After completing this module, candidates will be able to:

• Describe the business reasons for querying XML documents by using XPath
• Cache XML data for querying by using an XPathDocument object
• Create an XPathNavigator object to navigate through an XML document
• Compile and evaluate the result of an XPathExpression object
• Iterate through an XmlNodeList object returned by an XPath expression

Module 6: Manipulating Cached XML

In this module candidates will be introduced to the XML Document Object Model (XML DOM) and how to locate and manipulate XML by using the DOM.

Lessons:

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

Lab: Manipulating Cached XMLDocument Objects

• Loading an XML Document
• Navigating an XML Document
• Adding Elements and Comments to an XML Document
• Modifying and Deleting Information

After completing this module, candidates will be able to:

• Open and save XML by using the DOM
• Locate XML by using the DOM
• Create nodes in the XML node tree
• Modify and delete nodes in the XML node tree

Module 7: Transforming XML

In this module candidates will learn about the process of transforming XML documents. The module teaches candidates how to apply an XSLT transformation to an XML document by using the .NET XML classes, however it does not teach XSLT syntax or commands.

Lessons:

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

Lab: Transforming XML Documents

• Applying a Style Sheet
• Using Style Sheet Parameters
• Extending a Style Sheet with an Extension Object

After completing this module, candidates will be able to:

• List the business use cases for using XSLT
• Describe the transformation process
• Apply style sheets to XML documents by using the XslTransform class
• Display XML by using the ASP.NET Xml Web Forms control
• Pass parameters to XSLT style sheets
• Apply a style sheet that references an extension object

Module 8: Serialising Objects as XML

In this module candidates will learn the skills needed to create XML documents from the data contained within programmatic objects. This process is referred to as serialisation and can be used to persist object data or to share object data between applications.

Lessons:

• Introduction to XML Serialisation
• Serialising Objects Using XmlSerialiser
• Controlling XML Serialisation

Lab: Serialising Objects as XML

• Serialising a Purchase Order
• Controlling Serialisation with Attributes
• Deserialising an Invoice

After completing this module, candidates will be able to:

• Define XML serialisation
• Serialise and deserialise objects by using the XmlSerialiser class
• Control XML serialisation by using attributes

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