html or xml

**QuietC** · 08-22-2005, 09:56 PM

any suggestions on learning html or xml, any specific books or anything?

**joshua** · 08-22-2005, 11:26 PM

Well right now the latest standard is XHTML which is HTML in XML.

You can use http://www.w3.org/ for reference on specific tags and for learning http://w3schools.com is a good start. As far as books go, the oreilly ones are usually the best:
http://www.oreilly.com/catalog/html5/index.html
http://xml.oreilly.com/

Depends on your needs, but if you are jut planning on making websites then learn XHTML. If you plan on doing something a bit more complex then you can learn XML itself to generate your own XML file formats.

**SuperChuck** · 08-23-2005, 07:48 AM

I suggest ANSI C :)

What are you trying to do? What's your goal?

For the most part, XML is just a Data Definition Language. It can be a good way to organize data (which means different things to different people).

HTML is technically a subset of XML used to make web pages (technically, it's for organizing hypertext data, but that's another story for another time)...

XHTML (correct me if I'm wrong) is just HTML that fits into the strict XML format. Most web browsers are lenient and will display stuff that is not well-formed XML, so XHTML is used to mean "HTML that is well-formed XML". (I just call well-formed XML)

**Corona Gigante** · 08-23-2005, 08:46 AM

If you just want to make simple web pages, html is pretty easy to pick up.

For a quick start, I've always found the Sams Teach Yourself _____ In 24 Hours series to be very useful. There's enough information to get you going without bogging you down in too much detail.

I have an old but not obselete book at home. I forget the title right now. It's a hardcover 1200 pages with cd. Cost me $50 or so a couple of years ago. I haven't used it in a while and I'd be willing to let you have it for the cost of shipping. Unfortunately it weighs 6lbs. You'd probably be better offer ordering the SAMS book in paperback from amazon.

**Kenyth** · 08-23-2005, 11:59 AM

Making simple web pages is easy. As a matter of fact, most word processors and office apps. will do it for you. You end up with an html page, and a directory of supporting files, such as graphics. Simply upload both to the web directory of your choice.

**Jonsey5484** · 08-24-2005, 10:37 AM

I think I still have a couple of books lying around from when I went to school. My major was Micro Computer Speacialist and I had to take a whole class on HTML and XML. If you would like, I can try and dig up my books. They should not be outdated, as I just took the class a little over a year ago. Send me a PM and I can send them to you.

**hex1848** · 08-24-2005, 11:08 AM

Originally Posted by Kenyth

Making simple web pages is easy. As a matter of fact, most word processors and office apps. will do it for you. You end up with an html page, and a directory of supporting files, such as graphics. Simply upload both to the web directory of your choice.

*cringe*

While Word, and some other similar apps will output documents as HTML, it’s pretty damn ugly. I’m a purist. I like my (X)HTML to be neatly formatted and free of the crap that most of these apps auto generate.

http://www.htmlhelp.com is a great resource. As mentioned http://www.w3schools.com is great as well. I generally learn what I need to learn online. I rarely use the books that I’ve bought over the years. (looking at the shelf of dusty O’reilly books that I never use) .

What do you want to learn HTML/XML is the main question I have. We can point you in the right direction once we know.