SIG Notes | SIG Dates | Web Site Class | SE Tutorials | Search Engine Aid | Site P.R.
From: Allen J. Kapusta <akapusta@quik.com>
Subject: Summary of August Web Site Design and Promotion SIG
The Web Site Design and Promotion SIG meeting of August 4, 2001
discussed the following topics:
Lew Albery gave a presentation on XML and its differences from HTML.
SGML (Standard Generalized Markup Language) is a specification for
adding markup information (the formatting, purpose, or usage of the
data) to text files. SGML has a very flexible syntax, but is extremely
complex and difficult to learn and use.
HTML (HyperText Markup Language) is the standard language for publishing
hypertext on the World Wide Web. HTML is based on SGML, and uses tags to
including images, multimedia, and hypertext links in textual
information, as well as indicating where headings, paragraphs, emphasis,
tables, and other changes in presentation should occur.
XML (eXtensible Markup Language) is a simplified specification based on
SGML to allow structured data (such as database tables) to be exchanged
over the Web. XML applications must define "document types" that
specify the syntax and meaning of the elements used in an XML file
(document). An XML document is usually not intended to be viewed.
An XML document consists of an optional data type definition and a
single element (data preceded by a tag and followed by an end tag),
which may contain other elements. Elements may occur within other
elements (except within 'empty' elements). Parameter values and
references to other files can be contained within tags. Elements may
also contain text interspersed with nested elements. Binary data
(images, multimedia, and executable files) can be represented as
references to binary files or can be MIME encoded (the method used to
attach files to e-mail). Style sheets can be used to process XML files
through an interpreter and produce input to database management systems
or other programs. A single XML document can be interpreted with
different style sheets to produce input to different programs (such as a
browser, a database management system, and a publishing typesetting
system).
XHTML (eXtensible HyperText Markup Language) is an XML document type
which is similar to (but not entirely upward compatible with) HTML 4.
XHTML (and XML) require that every tag <whatever> be associated with a
corresponding end tag </whatever> (the syntax <whatever/> can be used to
indicate that a tag is empty, that is, there is no text or end tag; this
is equivalent to <whatever></whatever>). End tags must appear in LIFO
(last-in-first-out) order: the end tag for a tag must occur after the
end tags have been encountered for any following tags, but before the
end tags for tags that were unmatched when this tag was encountered.
The tags and formats for data used in an XML document should be agreed
upon by the senders and receivers of the data. The State of Florida
established XML formats for every data form that it requires. It also
encourages other states to use compatible definitions for their data
exchanges.
For example, someone selling merchandise may use HTML to display the
products available and accept orders, and track shipments by sending an
XML file with the shipment information to the shipping firm and receive
an XML file with the status of those shipments.
Do you know a link for us to add to this list on this topic? Click here to e-mail us!
Meetings of The Chicago Computer Society - Web Development / Promotion SIG
are 1:00 pm. until 3:00 pm. at the American Indian Center, 1630 W. Wilson.
Beginners are invited to learn Internet Basics from 12:00-1:00 before each meeting.
We want your ideas! E-mail all future meeting topic requests for the Web Development / Promotion SIG meeting to: umcac@art-teez.org
About Us | SPW Art | ART-ACT Art | Gallery Art | Art Contest | Help Us | Free GIFs