Tools

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• You should begin by getting yourself a good XML/XSLT/XSD editor. I like XML Spy (http://www.xmlspy.com), but there are several good ones out there. Don't let anyone tell you that GUIs are for wimps. Using Notepad to spend hours doing what a GUI tool will do for you in seconds simply makes no sense. You end up spending lots of time trudging around in clunky tools that would be better spent mastering the technology.

• You'll also want an XML Schema/DTD validator. I've had the best luck with Henry Thompson and Richard Tobin's XSV tool, particularly with schema validation, but there are several available.

• Depending on your other tools, you may need a separate XSLT transformation tool. I use Microsoft's built-in transformer in Internet Explorer, as well as James Clark's XT tool. Again, there are several freebies out there.

• If you run on Windows, get the latest version of the MSXML parser. It's the best one for Windows. IBM also has a nice product.

• Michael Kay's SAXON tool is worth having even if you have other XSLT processors. It's a nice piece of software written by a master of the technology.

• The MSXML SDK is also worth having if you're on Windows. It contains some good sample code and documentation that will come in handy if you build applications using the MSXML APIs.

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