The XML Schema Companion

Customer Reviews:

Kangaroos jump around less than this book.......2005-09-08

I purchased this book based upon recommendations listed here on Amazon. I should have looked elsewhere for reviews. This book is absolutely unreadable. The author jumps from topic to topic and then back that it makes my head spin. He refers to future chapters, future concepts, and external resources to distraction.

Specifically, in the midst of discussing simple element constructions, Mr. Bradley includes a paragraph describing television stations in the UK that has no relevance to the examples given. I'm sure he's proud of his heritage and his expertise on television in England, but what does it have to do with XML Schemas or the current example????????

I suspect that Mr. Bradley is a college professor. If he is, he should be forced to sit through recordings of his own lectures. Maybe that would cure him of his unbearable writing style.
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From beginning to the end, XML Schema is explained.......2004-08-15

Neil Bradley in his fourth book tells you everything you would ever want to know about XML Schemas or better knows as XSD for XML Schema Definition. With the popularity that various XML technologies are attracting these days, every developer, architect and designer needs to know what XML Schema is and how it used. This topic is covered in many other books, but Bradley's book has by far the most extensive, comprehensive and thorough coverage of the topic. It shows that author truly understand the topic at hand, and can convey the message clearly to the reader. The organization of the book starts with the author explaining how the XML Schema standard defines a template that documents created based on that template must conform to, followed by showing the reader how to define reusable data blocks based on the XML Schema language, and it finishes with XML Schema related topic such as namespaces and a rather complete overview what's out there and where to get more information.

Schemas are in a whole different category all by themselves. Every XML document, standard, protocol - basically anything that has anything to do with XML needs to use or to interact with XML Schema in one or another. XML Schemas are used to model both data and narrative XML documents, which means that if you are ever planning on interacting with XML, you better understand XML schemas. I thought that this topic will be very easy, and there is nothing to it... I was wrong. There is a whole lot to cover and once you read Bradley's book you'll know what I am talking about. The standard for schemas is so extensive, that the first few chapters of his book are spent on what the different terminologies mean and how they interrelate. For example, the difference between narrative data (data where the sequence of events and representation matters greatly) and datacenteric documents (order of presenting the data does not matter), and the difference between the schema definition author (the person who creates the schemas) versus the document instance author (people who create well-formed documents) and many others alike. After talking about the basics, the author spends a great deal of time explaining the various components of the XML schema such as elements, attributes, simple data type, complex data types, etc... Understanding these topics is essential in reading the following chapters of the book.
The author uses the same examples throughout the end, so the reader can follow the text and actually understand the topic while the author is presenting it. The code samples are just great. Since the topic is rather abstract, the author had spent a great deal of time using examples to demonstrate the topic at hand better. There were times that I read the example first, and then I went back to read the text, because the visualization is the key in this topic. As with any programming or technical book, the topic and examples start simple and they get much harder as you read the book. The same goes with this book, but the interesting thing is that if you don't know enough about namespaces, the author sends you off to one of the accompanying chapters to read to get ready. The chances are that you don't know enough about namespaces, and the "reference" topics included towards the end of the book become very valuable as you read this book. I thought that I knew namespaces rather well until I read the following:
"... namespaces do not exist as physical entities. There is no namespace definition markup language and no namespace file, object, or interface. ... namespaces are just a concept. This fact alone has led to much unnecessary confusion..."
In all the books and all the articles and the press and ... that I have read on XML, this little but rather important concept was left out. In one chapter the author has shed more light on a topic of namespaces than an entire book that one would find on the topic. The moral of the story is to read this book cover-to-cover. Even if you think you know it all, still spend the time to read this book. I was amazed at how complicated XML Schemas could get and how powerful they really are.
Some of the advanced topics covered include inheritance and pattern recognition. Both topics are very well explained and covered well. If you know regular expression from Perl, then pattern recognition in schema world would look very familiar to you. The same regular expression rules that are covered in Perl, govern the patterns matching in XML Schemas. What the author adds is concrete examples of how this technique can be used to build powerful schemas. Inheritance is another interesting topic in schemas, as inheritance has made XML schemas very object oriented. Some of your favorite concepts in Java map directly into schemas, and the author actually made table cross referencing the various "key phrases" in Java versus XML Schemas. If you are coming from the OO world of C++ or Java, take a look at this table first. If you are at all familiar with the Eiffel language, you would have a greater appreciation for some of the features of XML Schemas such as the ability to redefine an element or to extend specific parts of a schema.
In closing, if you think you know XML Schema's, think again. This book covers the topic in detail and does so very well. I would recommend this book to be read by any schema designer or a valuable reference for anyone interface with any XML technology.

Solid reference work.......2003-12-11

This is a solid reference work on XML Schema. I wouldn't go looking to it for advice on how to solve particular problems with XML Schema. But if you are looking for a quick reference guide that covers all of the syntax with annotated examples then you have come to the right place. The graphics, which are light-weight and to the point help to illustrate the key points.

Two minor complaints are that the structure of the book is odd (chapters at the end of the book which are clearly appendices are structured as chapters), and the index is also a little short.

On the positive note, XML schema is not a particularly exciting topic and Neil's tone keeps it a light and interesting read.

So far this is the best book I have read on the subject.

Namespaces are the key concept.......2003-12-11

You probably know that XML is descended from SGML, and it thus inherited DTDs, which were then the only means of specifying a document model. That proved adequate for SGML, but its limitations soon became clear in XML. Several alternatives were proposed, but XML Schema seems to be winning. Thus Bradley has delivered a timely exposition. He covers all the features clearly. A brief mention is made of its competitors, Relax NG and Schematron. But they do seem to be fading fast.

The most interesting part of Bradley's text are the chapters on namespaces. Other aspects of Schema are lower level and, while useful, are frankly mundane. By contrast, namespaces are the critical feature of Schema. They let you build on pre-existing schemas that have been published on the web. And you can publish your schemas so that others might benefit. You and those in your field or industry can cooperatively derive a net gain by agreeing and publishing standard definitions. A Network effect.

I assume that you are familiar with HTML. In that, the crucial element are the hyperlinks (the href and src attributes in certain tags). It is these that put the "H" in HTML. Without them, HTML just becomes a limited page markup language. It is that ability to link to arbitrary locations on the Internet which produced the Web. Likewise, in the much heralded Web Services, these exchange data via XML. Which in turn depends on XML Schema to build consistent hyperlinked semantics.

You should read Bradley's chapters on namespaces thoroughly.

Book Description

The speed with which business has become globally integrated is impressive and almost frightening. Much of this change has come from the Pacific Basin. At the same time, however, the Taiwanese, Chinese and Southeast Asians have also suffered from these rapid changes. The paranoia associated with rapidly escalating rates of foreign investment in China by a small country like Taiwan, for example, may provide an index of the anxiety that such change can engender. The studies in this collection of research articles provide a considered, rational approach to some of these changing patterns of world business--economic growth, regional trade, foreign direct investment, capital markets, and trade restrictions. The patterns of changing interlocking global business systems revealed in these articles are fascinating and reassuring. It is interesting and enlightening to see how these Asian business systems interlock where the parallel political systems may be in conflict.

Book Description

This new annual review from Cato analyzes the 2001/2002 Supreme Court Term, specifically looking at the most important and far reaching cases of the year.

Commercial's Supreme Court Direct Taxes Digest, 1932-2001 with Judicial Review

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Commercial's Supreme Court Direct Taxes Digest, 1932-2001 with Judicial Review
India
Manufacturer: Commercial Law Publishers (India)
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover
ASIN: 8187228482

The Supreme Court Review, 2001 (Supreme Court Review)

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The Supreme Court Review, 2001 (Supreme Court Review)

Manufacturer: University of Chicago Press Journals
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

General | Constitutional Law | Law | Subjects | Books

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ASIN: 0226362507

Book Description

Since it first appeared in 1960, The Supreme Court Review has won acclaim for providing a sustained and authoritative survey of the implications of the Court's most significant decisions. Consisting of diverse essays by distinguished lawyers, historians, and social scientists, each volume presents informed analyses of past and present opinions and discusses important public law issues that have come under Court consideration.

Stop reading over my shoulder: the Colorado Supreme Court shields book-purchase records from government snoops. (First Amendment Watch).(The Tattered Cover ... An article from: American Journalism Review

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Stop reading over my shoulder: the Colorado Supreme Court shields book-purchase records from government snoops. (First Amendment Watch).(The Tattered Cover ... An article from: American Journalism Review
Jane Kirtley
Manufacturer: University of Maryland
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Digital

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This digital document is an article from American Journalism Review, published by University of Maryland on June 1, 2002. The length of the article is 782 words. The page length shown above is based on a typical 300-word page. The article is delivered in HTML format and is available in your Amazon.com Digital Locker immediately after purchase. You can view it with any web browser.

Citation Details
Title: Stop reading over my shoulder: the Colorado Supreme Court shields book-purchase records from government snoops. (First Amendment Watch).(The Tattered Cover case)(Brief Article)
Author: Jane Kirtley
Publication: American Journalism Review (Refereed)
Date: June 1, 2002
Publisher: University of Maryland
Volume: 24 Issue: 5 Page: 66(1)

Article Type: Brief Article

Distributed by Thomson Gale

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SUPREME COURT REVIEW 2001
Dennis J. Hutchinson
Manufacturer: University of Chicago Press Journals
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback
ASIN: B000OP1ROY

Book Description

Book Description

In this comprehensive book, all aspects of Millimeter Waves (MMWs) are explored with an emphasis on the fundamental aspects of the associated physical phenomena. Each chapter provides a review of the main aspects of the subject, including: fundamental limitations and prospects of semiconductor device application in MMW radio systems; multi-element arrays of semiconductor devices in MMW transceivers; active MMW dielectric waveguides; crystal growth processes in thin film Au-GaAs contact performance for MMW devices; local nonuniformities and potential patches at the interfaces of thin film structures in MMW semiconductor devices; and low-loss dielectric materials for MMW components. The Science and Technology of Millimeter Wave Components and Devices will be invaluable to researchers, university lecturers, industrial laboratories and medical institutions concerned with both the scientific and technological advances in the millimeter wave components and devices.

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Absolutely silly and stupid, not to mention boring!

Funny and Enjoyable

Dea incessu patuit

I couldn't put it down

time that I will never get back

Ready to Fall: A Novel
Claire Cook
Manufacturer: Bridge Works
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

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Multiple Choice

Must Love Dogs

LIFE'S A BEACH

The Baker's Apprentice

Step-Ball-Change

ASIN: 1882593480

Book Description

A witty tale of marriage and midlife longing, as a taken-for-granted wife pursues a fantasy love via e-mail.

Customer Reviews:

Absolutely silly and stupid, not to mention boring!.......2005-09-23

The title of my review says it all. Wasted time reading it, not going to waste any more time reviewing it. And please, don't waste your money.

Funny and Enjoyable.......2005-08-23

I read this author's book, 'Must Love Dogs' and was totally charmed by it, to my surprise, I had not expected to even like it! (Based only on reviews of the film, see what a mistake that was!)

I enjoyed this book, too, but in a different way. It touched a bit close to home. I have an Aunt-in-law who basically ignored everyone in her life but her on-line computer chat room 'friends', not a pretty sight!

But, the story kept me reading, and I was able to laugh at the funny parts of this book, and feel sorry for the main character.

Books with a 'message' like this one, cautionary tales, are never ones we embrace, are they, necessarily? But, neither does that mean they are any less worthwhile than the stories we do cherish.

I think it is a book that is worth a read!

Dea incessu patuit.......2003-10-20

"Dea incessu patuit: 'And she revealed herself to be a goddess' (Virgil), as Venus did before Aeneas. And so, we are challenged to find our own goddess within, the part that makes you uniquely YOU." The life of Beth has become the Life of the Unfulfilled and Underappreciated, as she raises her 3 children into adolescence and struggles to find something to say to her spouse of many years. And then ... she plunges into the cyber world through e-mails to her traveling neighbor. Will she thrive and survive with this new allegance, or is she coming to learn more important things about herself? Through one sided e-mails, we go along on her Special Delivery discovery tour. It isn't necessarily Great Fiction, but it is fun and it is honest and written with plenty of wit. - The Goddess Mamalinda

I couldn't put it down.......2001-04-12

I picked up "Ready to Fall" because I was intrigued at the thought of a book written strictly in the form of emails. It was a nice glimpse into the life of Beth Riordan, but what I felt was missing was the other end of the conversation with her neighbor Thomas. It left too many gaps for me. However, you can still follow the conversation quite well and see the transformation of their relationship. it was much like reading someone's private diary.

time that I will never get back.......2001-03-16

I really looked forward to reading Ready to Fall, I had heard that it was very amusing and a good beach read. I was never amused. I spent the whole novel wondering how it ever got published. The characters are annoying, the situation plodding and predictable, and the format was hardly groundbreaking, as it is often credited to be. The prose is juvenile. If you are looking for a good beach read, something that won't require too much effort but will still be worth your time, check out Bridget Jone's diary.

Ready to Catch Him Should He Fall: A Novel

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Don't waste your time
A celebration of love!
A Stunning Tour de Force
Evocative, lush tale of gay bar and its clients

Ready to Catch Him Should He Fall: A Novel
Neil Bartlett
Manufacturer: Plume
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

Contemporary | General | Literature & Fiction | Subjects | Books

ASIN: 0452268737

Customer Reviews:

Don't waste your time.......2004-12-26

This novel is just another one of those 90s works written by people more or less "gay subculture oriented" (as Bruce Bawer would call it) which are not really worth the paper they got printed on. The silly plot consists of the usual mix of weird things (gay bars and their strange patrons, silly ideas about homosexuality and lots of sex and psychological problems) that can be very dangerous for a young man/teen who happens to be gay and possibly reads a book like this to get some answers. I've wasted my time when I was about 17 reading this book, don't repeat my mistake!

A celebration of love!.......2003-02-16

This book transcends my expectation. Its is lyrical, unique and possesses a raw honesty which imprisons me from the very beginning. The main characters, "BOY", "O", "Mother" and even "Father" are absolutely fascinating. The love between "BOY" and "O" is conveyed lucidly without any barrier or qualm. I will always remember "Ready to Catch Him Should He Fall" because it is so stunningly unique. It is disappointing that this book is out of print and could not be enjoyed by all of us who appreciate a real gay romance.

A Stunning Tour de Force.......1999-12-18

There is not much left to say after Mr. Clark's exhaustive and thoughtful review. I concur whole-heartedly. This is one of the best contemporary novels that I have read. I was amazed at the evolution of the plot and characters. There is a depth here that deserves respect and reading. You do not have to be gay to be touched by this book. It probably would have worked with totally straight characters. Its message and appeal are universal. Look past the drag and the leather and you will find a gripping account of the search for love, a need that we all share. Even more touchingly, you will see how and where that search proceeds and ends.

Evocative, lush tale of gay bar and its clients.......1998-09-27

Neil Bartlett, already well-known for his play "A Vision of Love Revealed in Sleep," wrote a gorgeous novel here, about a gay bar, its clients, its owner, and the lovers who meet there.

The novel is framed by the narration of an unnamed bar client, as he tells the story of O (which stands for "Older Man") and Boy, two men who first meet in a gay bar, chock full of interesting personalities, from the elegant bar owner, Madame, to the passive/aggressive dress maker, Miss Public House. The bar, which seems to be set in a city not unlike London (although it is never explicitly named), is a neighborhood fixture, and the first gay bar Boy ever sets foot in.

As the story continues through Boy and O's courtship and marriage, Bartlett builds incredible tension by throwing in dream sequences, and subplots involving a series of hate attacks on local gays and the strange relationship between Boy and his 'father.' The book also contains literary allusion after literary allusion, from "The Picture of Dorian Gray" to "Lady into Fox," and evokes strong female images through the use of the mysterious character of Madame, and the influence on the plot of the Billie Holiday song "All of Me."

This book is meant to be pulled back layer by layer, until all the diverse strands are threaded together. Boy's coming of age through his relationships and interactions with bar patrons is elegantly wrought. Particularly effective scenes include a long car-ride/sexual encounter with one unnamed bar patron, and a dream-like sequence involving O on the subway.

"Ready to Catch Him Should He Fall" really reaches its full peak, though, in a scene during which one of the bar patrons is wounded by an attacker, and stumbles into the bar in shock. Madame gets up on stage and delivers a speech which sums up much of gay life and love. It is just an incredible scene, and the narrator's commentary on the action is both enlightening and heart-breaking.

Although "Ready..." can sometimes become almost too theatrical and lush for its own good, it's an extraordinary read, maybe the best book featuring gay characters published in the 1990s. It easily outstrips Bartlett's earlier "Who's That Man?" and later "The House on Brooke Street" as his best piece.

So many unworthy books have been made into movies. Does anyone own the rights to this one?

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