Python & XML

If you are a Python programmer who wants to incorporate XML into your skill set, this is the book for you. Python has attracted a wide variety of developers, who use it either as glue to connect critical programming tasks together, or as a complete cross-platform application development language. Yet, because it is object-oriented and has powerful text manipulation abilities, Python is an ideal language for manipulating XML.

Python & XML gives you a solid foundation for using these two languages together. Loaded with practical examples, this new volume highlights common application tasks, so that you can learn by doing. The book starts with the basics then quickly progresses to complex topics, like transforming XML with XSLT, querying XML with XPath, and working with XML dialects and validation. It also explores the more advanced issues: using Python with SOAP and distributed web services, and using Python to create scalable streams between distributed applications (like databases and web servers).

The book provides effective practical applications, while referencing many of the tools involved in XML processing and Python, and highlights cross-platform issues along with tasks relevant to enterprise computing. You will find ample coverage of XML flow analysis and details on ways in which you can transport XML through your network.

Whether you are using Python as an application language, or as an administrative or middleware scripting language, you are sure to benefit from this book. If you want to use Python to manipulate XML, this is your guide.

Table of Contents

Preface 

1. Python and XML

      Key Advantages of XML 

      The XML Specifications 

      The Power of Python and XML 

      What Can We Do with It? 

2. XML Fundamentals

      XML Structure in a Nutshell 

      Document Types and Schemas 

      Types of Conformance 

      Physical Structures 

      Constructing XML Documents 

      Document Type Definitions 

      Canonical XML 

      Going Beyond the XML Specification 

3. The Simple API for XML

      The Birth of SAX 

      Understanding SAX 

      Reading an Article 

      Searching File Information 

      Building an Image Index 

      Converting XML to HTML 

      Advanced Parser Factory Usage 

      Native Parser Interfaces 

4. The Document Object Model

      The DOM Specifications 

      Understanding the DOM 

      Python DOM Offerings 

      Retrieving Information 

      Changing Documents 

      Building a Web Application 

      Going Beyond SAX and DOM 

5. Querying XML with XPath

      XPath at a Glance 

      Where Is XPath Used? 

      Location Paths 

      XPath Arithmetic Operators 

      XPath Functions 

      Compiling XPath Expressions 

6. Transforming XML with XSLT

      The XSLT Specification 

      XSLT Processors 

      Defining Stylesheets 

      Using XSLT from the Command Line 

      XSLT Elements 

      A More Complex Example 

      Embedding XSLT Transformations in Python 

      Choosing a Technique 

7. XML Validation and Dialects

      Working with DTDs 

      Validation at Runtime 

      The BillSummary Example 

      Dialects, Frameworks, and Workflow 

      What Does ebXML Offer? 

8. Python Internet APIs

      Connecting Web Sites 

      Working with URLs 

      Opening URLs 

      Connecting with HTTP 

      Using the Server Classes 

9. Python, Web Services, and SOAP

      Python Web Services Support 

      The Emerging SOAP Standard 

      Python SOAP Options 

      Example SOAP Server and Client 

      What About XML-RPC? 

10. Python and Distributed Systems Design

      Sample Application and Flow Analysis 

      Understanding the Scope 

      Building the Database 

      Building the Profiles Access Class 

      Creating an XML Data Store 

      The XML Switch 

      Running the XML Switch 

      A Web Application 

A. Installing Python and XML Tools
B. XML Definitions
C. Python SAX API
D. Python DOM API
E. Working with MSXML3.0
F. Additional Python XML Tools

Index