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XML Programming Using the Microsoft XML Parser
By Soo Mee Foo, Wei Meng Lee

Publisher: Apress Buy it Now! 

ISBN: 1893115429
Format: Paperback, 480pp
CD: NO

Since XML is one of the fastest growing areas in IT today, it's hard to follow its constantly emerging standards and new technologies. XML Programming Using the Microsoft XML Parser covers the current most important XML-related standards, protocols and languages with the content and examples strongly based on Microsoft products, which primarily relates to MSXML parser, but also MDAC, MS SQL Server 2000, IIS, etc.

In order to survive in IT, one must constantly follow trends and update her/his knowledge. As far as XML is concerned, keeping up with its rapid growth is not simple and beginners can easily get confused with numerous XML-connected topics like DTD, XPATH , XSLT, XML DOM, SAX, XDR, WML, SOAP, WSDL ... . This book clarifies all these terms and, like the authors said, its goal wasn't to go too deep into explaining everything to the last bit (like in those huge XML tomes), but rather to illustrate the big picture about XML today by presenting the fundamentals of most important XML-related technologies along with the practical examples. I have to admit that, since both authors are teachers, I expected a more theoretical, novice type of book, but I can't say that for most of its parts and especially for certain examples. Beside, I find the content well organized and I like their rather straightforward style.
On the other hand, there are things I dislike. In their wish to ease the reading for complete beginners, the authors included almost a whole chapter about ADO basics as well as some basic facts about SQL Server and software installation in general. In my opinion this was completely unnecessary, they could have just referenced another sources for this and made more use of space by expanding some other chapters instead (like WML or Web Services, which development and importance are increasing every day). What I mind the most is the lack of any .NET XML techniques. The authors said in the introduction that at the time of writing Microsoft released the beta versions of the .NET framework and Visual Studio.NET, so they based their book on older MS products (like SOAP toolkit for web services). They suggested that the logic is the same and that .NET would only make things easier (automatic generation of WSDL files, for example), which is true, but I suspect the book would sell better if they waited a bit more with publishing and included at least some .NET content.

Don't get me wrong, I don't think this is a weak book. After all, I suspect that writing about XML these days is quite an ungrateful task. In the end I would say that It is definitely not targeted for seasoned professionals, but it's not pure beginner stuff either. As for myself, I was rather pleased and don't feel like I wasted my time reading it.