XML is the place for me...currently....

[kitari]

Um, I just decided today that I would like to learn XML and I'm wondering where's a good place to start? All of these web scripts seem really intimidating to me at first, so could you give me a place where a total simpleton like me could pick some of it up? I'd appreciate it much.

[scragar]

http://www.w3schools.com/xml

[kitari]

You know, coincidentally, that's the site I found a little earlier, but it says that Javascript is best to learn first. Should I try both at the same time? And do I need any special editors?

[scragar]

Well XML itself is very simple, learning javascript just let's you display said XML on a page or do things with the information.

basic XML is really easy, first you need a header:
<?xml version="1.0" encoding="CHARSET" ?>
Where CHARSET can be any character set, most common is UTF-8, but others are not uncommon.
Then you need a root node, from which everything else can be put, what you want to call the node is up to you, make sure it describes your goals, so:
<library>
would be great for a catalogue of books, while:
<root>
is very undescriptive, and defeats the point of using XML(which is about describing the data, not just the data).

After that you want contents, taking the idea of a book listing, we want a child, a book.
<book>
then we want some information about said book, how about a title and author(using the book sitting on my computer desk right now as a sample):
<title>Little Brother</title>
<author>Cory Doctorow</author>
Then we need to close the book:
</book>
After that we can throw as many books in as we want, and at the end close the library:
</library>
And we are done.
<?xml version="1.0" encoding="UTF-8" ?>
<library>
<book>
<title>Little Brother</title>
<author>Cory Doctorow</author>
</book>
</library>
That's not the full extent of XML's power, there are doctypes, style sheets and namespaces, but if all you want is a starting point then that is pretty much it.


I have to say though, if you have never done any web programming before then HTML is the starting point, learn the basics of HTML, then learn CSS, after that start with a bit of javascript, and see what you want to do after that.

[rpgfan3233]

I'll note that if you're interested in XML, you might also glance at XHTML after looking at HTML. It's the same as HTML (for right now), but it uses XML syntax and rules. It isn't all that different really as long as you quote all attribute values, close all tags properly and use lowercase element names. There are a couple subtle things that are different between HTML and XHTML (because of XML's rules), but it is the same for the most part. I'd recommend at least taking a look at it.

[kitari]

What sources should I use? Sorry, but not only do I have the IQ of a log when it comes to this stuff, but I'm bad at finding material for it as well.