Test 141: XML and Related Technologies

Objectives

Sample / assessment tests

Training resources

Section 1 - Architecture

1. Determine the implications of a given architecture on XML design considerations
2. Select appropriate XML technologies for an architecture (XML Schema 1.0, XSLT 1.0, DOM2, SAX2, XPath 1.0, Namespaces, DTDs)
3. Design functional components and interconnections for an XML application architecture
4. Assess performance trade-offs related to parsing, validation and transformation
5. Know basics of Web Services (SOAP, WSDL, UDDI)
6. Address XML security using XML encryption and XML signature

Section 2 - Information Modeling

1. Analyze data, documents, and problem domains
2. Represent structure in XML syntax (model data)
3. Use Namespaces appropriately
4. Define DTDs (declarations, reuse, external references)
5. Define schemas using XML Schema (declaration, structure, data types, data relationships, reuse, external references)
6. Determine when to use DTD versus XML Schema (legacy systems, scoping, run-time modification, constraints)
7. Consider data integration and linking issues when designing data models (i.e., related to XLink/XPointer)
8. Perform validation of XML documents

Section 3 - XML Processing

1. Analyze data integration points
2. Use the SAX2 API to manipulate XML data
3. Use the DOM2 API to manipulate XML data
4. Traverse an XML document using XPath
5. Transform XML using XSLT
6. Determine process implications when integrating XML data
7. Address validation/conformance and exception handling issues related to XML Schema (e.g., data typing and pattern matching)

Section 4 - XML Rendering

1. Define optimal rendering/transformation approach for each target (e.g., screens, print, pervasive)
2. Use XSLT and Formatting Objects to style XML documents
3. Re-target XML for multiple formats
4. Use existing CSS to format XML or XHTML
5. Consider data rendering issues after designing data models

Section 5 - Testing & Tuning

1. Determine appropriateness of single versus multiple pass transformations, XSL extensions, XSL and Schema inclusions
2. Optimize XML application execution (e.g., includes, import, id, idref, keys)
3. Create instances for testing XML applications (e.g. based on data model, boundary cases)
4. Refine design as necessary based on data model, data integration, data rendering, and data query issues