Date: Mon, 5 Feb 2001 18:30:01 -0800 (PST)
From: Simone Paddock <simone@oreilly.com>
To: lwn@lwn.net
Subject: Create Self-Describing Data with O'Reilly's "Learning XML"

For immediate release
For more information, a review copy, cover art, 
or interview with the author, contact:
Simone Paddock (707) 829-0515 ext 330 or simone@oreilly.com


XML is Like Digital Tupperware Says "Learning XML" Author


Sebastopol, CA--"XML is quickly becoming the container of choice for
electronic information, already with a huge base of support from open
source developers to international banking institutions," says Erik T.
Ray, author of the just-released "Learning XML" (O'Reilly, US $34.95).
"Like digital Tupperware, it is configurable to fit your data
perfectly, while remaining a universal and flexible format that can be
shared by many applications. Following the explosive popularity of
HTML, XML will go further to break down barriers to global
communication and data sharing."

XML (Extensible Markup Language) is a flexible way to create
"self-describing data"--and to share both the format and the data on
the World Wide Web, intranets, and elsewhere. "XML is an unprecedented
effort by a consortium of organizations and companies to create an
information framework for the 21st century that HTML can only hint at,"
says Ray. "If you are at all involved in web development or information
management, you'll need to know about XML."

The arrival of support for XML in browsers and authoring tools has
followed a long period of intense hype. Major databases, authoring
tools (including Microsoft's Office 2000), and browsers are now
committed to XML support.

In "Learning XML," Eric T. Ray explains XML and its capabilities
succinctly and professionally, with references to real-life projects
and other cogent examples. The book shows the purpose of XML markup
itself, the CSS and XSL styling languages, and the XLink and XPointer
specifications for creating rich link structures.

For writers producing XML documents, this book demystifies files and
the process of creating them with the appropriate structure and format.
Designers will learn what parts of XML are most helpful to their team
and will get started on creating Document Type Descriptions. For
programmers, the book makes syntax and structures clear. It also
discusses the stylesheets needed for viewing documents in the next
generation of browsers, databases, and other devices.

"In just a few years, XML has captured the imagination of technology
pundits and industry mavens alike," says Ray. "The world is ready to
move to a new level of connectedness. The volume of information within
our reach is staggering, but the limitations of existing technology can
make it difficult to access. XML may be the answer. It is destined to
be the grease on the wheels of the information infrastructure."


Chapter 2, Markup and Core Concepts, is available free online at: 
http://www.oreilly.com/catalog/learnxml/chapter/ch02.html

For more information about the book, including Table of Contents,
index, author bio, and samples, see:
http://www.oreilly.com/catalog/learnxml/

For a cover graphic in jpeg format, go to:
ftp://ftp.ora.com/pub/graphics/book_covers/hi-res/0596000464.jpg

An article by the author Eric T. Ray, "Organizing XML with Entities,"
can be read here:  
http://xml.oreilly.com/news/learningxml_0101.html


Learning XML
Creating Self-Describing Data
Erik T. Ray
February 2001 
ISBN 0-596-00046-4, 350 pages, $34.95 (US)
order@oreilly.com
1-800-998-9938
http://www.oreilly.com

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