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#1 2007-07-15 8:43 pm
- MacZiMiZer
- Jack of All, King of None
- From: US of A
- Registered: 2001-10-25
- Posts: 1551
Suggestions on XML/CSS
Ok so since my school is atrocious I'm taking it upon myself in my spare time to teach myself the basics of various programming. Plus my dad needs help with his website, so I'm looking for a good book if anyone can suggest one. I've really been enjoying C Primer Plus published by SAMS, and while they have books on XML and Dreamweaver they don't have anything on CSS so if anyone could suggest either a book or a good way to get started in web coding (since design and graphics I already know) I'd really appreciate it. Thanks mates
Also I suppose more importantly I should ask which is best to get into first, xml or css, my dad is trying to scrap himself up on CSS right now though he keeps buying all these weird template programs (word of warning never ever ever try net fusion).
Last edited by MacZiMiZer (2007-07-15 8:45 pm)
8/7/04 Wiz, never forgotten
In loving memory of my Grandmum Shirley.
"Are you the one who keeps tellin' me to beware? Cause I'll tell you where to be!"
[MA]BlakBantam [MA]PvtCrim Roncanear -STEAM- -PSN- PrvtCrim
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#2 2007-07-16 7:20 am
Re: Suggestions on XML/CSS
I'd go ahead and learn good 'ol HTML instead of XML because pure XML on the web is not there yet. Probably won't be for a while save for some back end data formats.
I'd check out any old HTML book that preaches "web standards" because it will also teach you to use CSS for presentation for semantically correct (x)HTML markup.
For CSS I'd try "Designing with web standards" by Zeldman. By the time you're done with that book you'll be able to get the rest of what you need from the internet.
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#3 2007-07-16 9:28 am
- MacZiMiZer
- Jack of All, King of None
- From: US of A
- Registered: 2001-10-25
- Posts: 1551
Re: Suggestions on XML/CSS
oh I know HTML just haven't done any in awhile but I can read it and know what's going on still. Thanks for the tip, I obviously need to read up on what is what exactly since I've stayed out of web development for several years so to be honest I don't know what xml or css really is heh, but I've seen a lot of my classmates make things with CSS and they mention how much easier it is than plain html.
8/7/04 Wiz, never forgotten
In loving memory of my Grandmum Shirley.
"Are you the one who keeps tellin' me to beware? Cause I'll tell you where to be!"
[MA]BlakBantam [MA]PvtCrim Roncanear -STEAM- -PSN- PrvtCrim
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#4 2007-07-16 1:37 pm
Re: Suggestions on XML/CSS
Think of it this way:
HTML is the logical, ie: semantic, organization of the information. The data should flow in a logical manner so that when displayed in a base form, with no styling (CSS) it would make sense to the reader. XML is a variant of HTML (more accurately SGML) - it uses a very similar structure with a few different rules and a rigid system for maintaining strict data types. I'll get nailed for oversimpifying that, but oh well.
CSS is the display layer. You can style everything, even move content around, so that it is more easily read than plain presentation and so that the data presents how you'd like it to. CSS can be applied to both HTML and XML.
Last edited by Gipetto (2007-07-16 1:38 pm)
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#5 2007-07-16 1:57 pm
- MacZiMiZer
- Jack of All, King of None
- From: US of A
- Registered: 2001-10-25
- Posts: 1551
Re: Suggestions on XML/CSS
ah it all makes sense now, I thought XML was like C++ is to C.
8/7/04 Wiz, never forgotten
In loving memory of my Grandmum Shirley.
"Are you the one who keeps tellin' me to beware? Cause I'll tell you where to be!"
[MA]BlakBantam [MA]PvtCrim Roncanear -STEAM- -PSN- PrvtCrim
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#6 2007-07-16 11:16 pm
Re: Suggestions on XML/CSS
As always, I recommend the Peach Pit Press quick start books. Maybe some like this:
http://www.peachpit.com/title/0321266919
They won't show you cutting edge design or anything like that. But they do a good job of actually explaining what is going on why things work and lots of tips. Usually they are laid out chronologically and use a real world example. So you can follow along and learn things in a good order.
More importantly they are laid out in a very accessible way so if you are like me, and not so much into follow along tutorials, they double as a great reference with inline tips, tricks and explanations. Since you have experience coding, you probably won't go page by page. You can kinda zip along and work learn at your own pace. And they are pretty cheap.
I pretty much learned Perl entirely from on of those books. Since then they are about the only ones I will get.
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