Just XSL

Rating:
Summary: Dissatisfactory structure
Review: After a comprehensive search through the jungle of available literature on the much talked topic 'XSL', I - a total beginner to XSL, X-PATH, X-POINTER, X-LINK - decided to purchase the book 'Just XSL'.

My objective is:
- to be able to develop professionally written XSL
with all the necessary surrounding languages where necessary
(such as X-PATH, X-POINTERS, etc.)
- to know 'XSL surrounding languages' where necessary or to be
able to evaluate what is why, where necessary under which
circumstances

My goals are:
- to learn the principle structure of XSL
- to learn the correlating languages going along with XSL
- to systematically understand all necessary syntax, tree
structure and whatever should be involved
- to practically apply studies to 'real-world' examples
under different degrees (beginner, intermediate, advanced)
(eg including CD, etc.) for XSL and necessary surrounding
languages
- to know how to incorporate XSL into or with web based
languages (eg Java, CGI) and database development
- to be provided with suggestions on available tools on different
platforms (for Mac, Unix, Linux, Windows, etc.)

My learning targets have unfortunately not been met by this book, unfortunately. Although the books talks a lot, it lacks of a structural approach and has thus not met my learning goals. All in all, I am obliged to get another book on the topic so I am left with the starting situation again: which one? I hope it will not be another waste again ..... Students always have a limited budget.

Rating:
Summary: Good tutorial-style indepth coverage of XSL
Review: Contrary to one of the other reviews on this site I found this to be an excellent structured approach to learning XSL. The book however is not a reference guide as much as a step by step tutorial. Read cover to cover the reader should gain a good indepth knowledge on the subject. The content is light enough to keep you interested but not so light that you're left guessing and the later chapters (while not necessary to gaining good XSL knowledge) cover a lot of advanced topics such as XSL-FO.

PS. No where on the back cover or in the contents are topics such as JAVA or CGI mentioned. The reviewer who expressed dismay at lack of coverage in these areas should have bought a different book if that's what they wanted to start off with.