| Often, many benefits of using an XML publishing framework such as AxKit become obvious only later in a project's life (e.g., the ability to easily add new heavy-duty features to an existing site, or the power to completely change the look and feel of an entire site without touching its content). Given this, any examples you may choose for this introduction will surely fall short of illustrating AxKit's real power. Accepting the notion that the task at hand is a bit absurd frees you to have a little fun with it while still learning the basics. Let's run with the absurdity, and imagine that you are charged with the task of publishing a small site on the very silly subject of cryptozoology. Cryptozoology (literally, the study of hidden animals ) is concerned with the gathering and analysis of data related to animals that are frequently reported by local residents or found in popular folklore, but whose existence the scientific community has not formally recognized. Familiar examples include the Yeti, Loch Ness Monster, and Mokele-Mbembe. The first document for your site, cryptozoo.xml , contains a list of cryptozoological species (called cryptids by insiders). (See Example 3-1.) Example 3-1. cryptozoo.xml <?xml version="1.0"?> <cryptids> <species> <name>Jackalope</name> <habitat>Western North America</habitat> <description> <para> Similar to the Bavarian raurackl (stag-hare), the North American Jackalope resembles a large jackrabbit with small, deer-like antlers. This vicious carnivore is frequently mistaken for common rabbits or hares suffering from <italic>papillomatosis</italic> (a condition that produces horn-like growths on the head in those species). </para> </description> </species> <species> <name>Dahut</name> <habitat>French Alps</habitat> <description> <para> A shy relative of the Alpine deer, the Dahut has adapted to the challenges of its mountainous habitat by growing legs that are considerably longer on one side of its body. While this asymmetrical limb configuration allows for level grazing on steep grades, it leaves the unfortunate creature unable to reverse its course. Local hunters exploit this weakness by sneaking up behind the Dahut and either whistling softly or crying "Dahut!"; when the startled creature turns to face its assailant, it finds its longer legs on the wrong side and it tumbles to it doom. </para> </description> </species> <!-- . . . more species here --> </cryptids>
No cryptozoology site worth its salt is complete without a list of cryptid sightings. Your second XML document, creatively named cryptid_sightings.xml , contains just that. (See Example 3-2.) Example 3-2. cryptid_sightings.xml <?xml version="1.0"?> <sightings> <sighting> <species>Jersey Devil</species> <location>Bordentown, NJ</location> <date>Autumn, 1816</date> <description> <p> A Jersey Devil was reportedly seen by Joseph Bonaparte, former King of Spain and brother of Napoleon, while hunting in the woods near Bordentown, New Jersey. </p> </description> <witnesses> <name>Joseph Bonaparte</name> </witnesses> </sighting> <sighting> <species>Snipe</species> <location>Phelan, CA</location> <date>June 2002</date> <description> <p> The Phelan Phine Snipe Hunters Association celebrated the opening of this year's Snipe season. Unfortunately, the entire photographic record of the event was ruined during a nasty "keg stand" incident in the beer tent after the hunt. </p> </description> <witnesses> <name>Jason Nugall</name> <name>William Q. Rozborne</name> </witnesses> </sighting> </sightings>
You need one last XML document: a small file that captures the filenames of the two other documents in the site. You will use this bit of metadata to create the navigation in the final result delivered to the requesting HTML browser, so the name nav.xml seems appropriate. (See Example 3-3.) Example 3-3. nav.xml <?xml version="1.0"?> <links> <a href="cryptozoo.xml">Species</a> <a href="cryptid_sightings.xml">Sightings</a> </links>
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