Getting started with XML

Where to begin?

[MatthewHSE]

Now that I have a rudimentary knowledge of PHP, I thought it might be time to get started on XML. I know how to "write" XML, so to speak, by making up my own tags and styling them with CSS. However, that type of work doesn't "do" anything, and I'd like to go further.

The first XML application I have in mind is some sort of script that will read data from the National Weather Service XML data feeds and aggregate it into either a text file or a MySQL database on my server. Unfortunately, the NWS documentation on their XML data is way above my head. I need to get a start with XML before I can get on with anything that uses it, so I need to know a good way to get started. If someone could recommend a good book, online tutorials, and, most importantly, explain what XML "does" and what its essential components are (where does SOAP come in, for instance), I'd really appreciate it.

Thanks in advance,

Matthew

[vinyljunkie]

You might want to have a look at the tutorials at w3schools.

[w3schools.com...]

Also, there is a brand new XML book that was just released today. Here's the link:

[sitepoint.com...]

You can download sample chapters to see if it would be something that would fit your needs.

Hope this helps. :)

[Conscientious Reject]

I am also very new to XML and although I know how to make a basic xml/xsl page, I am beginning to wonder what benefits it has as well. Also, is it possible to call specific data in an xml document using JavaScript, or even DHTML and add content to a seperate webpage? I am sure it is possible, and if some one could clue me in. It would be greatly appreciated. Wouldn't it be great if you could store the content of your entire site on one XML document?