1. Chapter 1 Python and XML

   1. Key Advantages of XML

   2. The XML Specifications

   3. The Power of Python and XML

   4. What Can We Do with It?

2. Chapter 2 XML Fundamentals

   1. XML Structure in a Nutshell

   2. Document Types and Schemas

   3. Types of Conformance

   4. Physical Structures

   5. Constructing XML Documents

   6. Document Type Definitions

   7. Canonical XML

   8. Going Beyond the XML Specification

3. Chapter 3 The Simple API for XML

   1. The Birth of SAX

   2. Understanding SAX

   3. Reading an Article

   4. Searching File Information

   5. Building an Image Index

   6. Converting XML to HTML

   7. Advanced Parser Factory Usage

   8. Native Parser Interfaces

4. Chapter 4 The Document Object Model

   1. The DOM Specifications

   2. Understanding the DOM

   3. Python DOM Offerings

   4. Retrieving Information

   5. Changing Documents

   6. Building a Web Application

   7. Going Beyond SAX and DOM

5. Chapter 5 Querying XML with XPath

   1. XPath at a Glance

   2. Where Is XPath Used?

   3. Location Paths

   4. XPath Arithmetic Operators

   5. XPath Functions

   6. Compiling XPath Expressions

6. Chapter 6 Transforming XML with XSLT

   1. The XSLT Specification

   2. XSLT Processors

   3. Defining Stylesheets

   4. Using XSLT from the Command Line

   5. XSLT Elements

   6. A More Complex Example

   7. Embedding XSLT Transformations in Python

   8. Choosing a Technique

7. Chapter 7 XML Validation and Dialects

   1. Working with DTDs

   2. Validation at Runtime

   3. The BillSummary Example

   4. Dialects, Frameworks, and Workflow

   5. What Does ebXML Offer?

8. Chapter 8 Python Internet APIs

   1. Connecting Web Sites

   2. Working with URLs

   3. Opening URLs

   4. Connecting with HTTP

   5. Using the Server Classes

9. Chapter 9 Python, Web Services, and SOAP

   1. Python Web Services Support

   2. The Emerging SOAP Standard

   3. Python SOAP Options

   4. Example SOAP Server and Client

   5. What About XML-RPC?

10. Chapter 10 Python and Distributed Systems Design

    1. Sample Application and Flow Analysis

    2. Understanding the Scope

    3. Building the Database

    4. Building the Profiles Access Class

    5. Creating an XML Data Store

    6. The XML Switch

    7. Running the XML Switch

    8. A Web Application

1. Appendix A Installing Python and XML Tools

   1. Installing Python

   2. Installing PyXML

   3. Installing 4Suite

2. Appendix B XML Definitions

   1. XML Definitions

3. Appendix C Python SAX API

4. Appendix D Python DOM API

   1. DOMException

   2. DOMImplementation

   3. DocumentFragment

   4. Document

   5. Node

   6. NodeList

   7. NamedNodeMap

   8. CharacterData

   9. Attr

   10. Element

   11. Text

   12. Comment

   13. CDATASection

   14. DocumentType

   15. Notation

   16. Entity

   17. EntityReference

   18. ProcessingInstruction

   19. 4DOM Extensions

5. Appendix E Working with MSXML3.0

   1. Setting Up MSXML3.0

   2. Basic DOM Operations

   3. MSXML3.0 Support for XSLT

   4. Handling Parsing Errors

   5. MSXML3.0 Reference

6. Appendix F Additional Python XML Tools

   1. Pyxie

   2. Python XML Tools

   3. XML Schema Validator

   4. Sab-pyth

   5. Redfoot

   6. XML Components for Zope

   7. Online Resources

7. Colophon

Our look is the result of reader comments, our own experimentation, and feedback from distribution channels. Distinctive covers complement our distinctive approach to technical topics, breathing personality and life into potentially dry subjects. The animals on the cover of Python and XML are elephant shrews. Different types of elephant shrews are found throughout Africa, most residing along the coast. The elephant shrew's long nose, which resembles an elephant's trunk, is the source of its name. The shrew pokes this trunk under leaves and, with its even longer tongue, flicks food into its mouth. It feeds mostly on termites and ants, but also eats shoots, berries, and roots.

Elephant shrews have long, soft fur that is sandy brown on the surface, fading to pale orange or gray. Their bodies range from 3.7 to 4 inches in length, and their tails, 3.7 to 5 inches. They weigh between 1 and 1.7 ounces. Elephant shrews grow to full size in about 46 days, and leave their shelters anywhere from 18 to 36 days after birth. Because they mature and leave their nests so quickly, predators rarely invade the nests.

Most elephant shrews do not burrow, as their feet are not well adapted for digging, but instead find depressions in the ground in which to nest. As they settle into these depressions, they pull leaves and debris over their heads for cover. The elephant shrew is very territorial, as it is mainly a solitary animal. When others approach, the shrew will break into a sudden flurry of kicking, screaming, sparring, and snapping until it is alone once more. Mary Brady was the production editor and copyeditor for Python and XML. David Futato was the proofreader. Matt Hutchinson and Claire Cloutier provided quality control. Edith Shapiro and Camilla Ammirati provided production support. Johnna VanHoose Dinse wrote the index.

Emma Colby designed the cover of this book, based on a series design by Edie Freedman. The cover image is an original illustration from Mammalia. Emma Colby produced the cover layout with QuarkXPress 4.1, using Adobe's ITC Garamond font.

David Futato designed the interior layout. Mihaela Maier converted the files from Microsoft Word to FrameMaker 5.5.6, using tools created by Mike Sierra. The text font is Linotype Birka; the heading font is Adobe Myriad Condensed; and the code font is LucasFont's TheSans Mono Condensed. The illustrations that appear in the book were produced by Robert Romano and Jessamyn Read using Macromedia Free-Hand 9 and Adobe Photoshop 6. The tip and warning icons were drawn by Christopher Bing. This colophon was written by Linley Dolby.

Whenever possible, our books use a durable and flexible lay-flat binding.