XPointer Example
Let's try to learn some basic XPointer syntax by looking at an example.
XPointer Example
In this example, we will show you how to use XPointer in conjunction with XLink to point to a specific part of another document.
We will start by looking at the target XML document (the document we are going to link to).
The Target XML Document
The target XML document is called "dogbreeds.xml" and it lists a few different dog breeds:
<?xml version="1.0" encoding="ISO-8859-1"?>
<dogbreeds>
<dog breed="Rottweiler" id="Rottweiler">
<picture url="http://dog.com/rottweiler.gif" />
<history>The Rottweiler's ancestors were probably Roman
drover dogs.....</history>
<temperament>Confident, bold, alert and imposing, the Rottweiler
is a popular choice for its ability to protect....</temperament>
</dog>
<dog breed="FCRetriever" id="FCRetriever">
<picture url="http://dog.com/fcretriever.gif" />
<history>One of the earliest uses of retrieving dogs was to
help fishermen retrieve fish from the water....</history>
<temperament>The flat-coated retriever is a sweet, exuberant,
lively dog that loves to play and retrieve....</temperament>
</dog>
</dogbreeds> |
View the "dogbreeds.xml" file in your browser
Note that the XML document above uses id attributes on each element we may want to link to!
The Linking XML Document
Instead of linking to the entire document (as with XLink), XPointer allows you to link to specific parts of the document. To link to a specific part of a
page, add a number sign (#) and an XPointer expression after the URL in the xlink:href attributes.
The expression: #xpointer(id("Rottweiler")) refers to the element in the target document, with the id value of "Rottweiler".
So the xlink:href attribute would look like this: xlink:href="http://dog.com/dogbreeds.xml#xpointer(id('Rottweiler'))"
However, XPointer allows a shorthand form when linking to an element with an id. You can use the
value of the id directly, like this: xlink:href="http://dog.com/dogbreeds.xml#Rottweiler"
The following XML document refers to information of the dog breed for each of
my dogs :-), all through XLink and XPointer references:
<?xml version="1.0" encoding="ISO-8859-1"?>
<mydogs xmlns:xlink="http://www.w3.org/1999/xlink">
<mydog xlink:type="simple"
xlink:href="http://dog.com/dogbreeds.xml#Rottweiler">
<description xlink:type="simple"
xlink:href="http://myweb.com/mydogs/anton.gif">
Anton is my favorite dog. He has won a lot of.....
</description>
</mydog>
<mydog xlink:type="simple"
xlink:href="http://dog.com/dogbreeds.xml#FCRetriever">
<description xlink:type="simple"
xlink:href="http://myweb.com/mydogs/pluto.gif">
Pluto is the sweetest dog on earth......
</description>
</mydog>
</mydogs> |
Click here to design a Stunning Flash Website for Free
Wix is a revolutionary web design tool that provides anyone with the possibility to create professional and beautiful websites for free.
With e-commerce features, search engine visibility and many more professional tools, Wix is the ultimate solution for creating a spectacular site while saving tons of money.
 |
W3Schools' Online Certification Program
The perfect solution for professionals who need to balance work, family, and career building.
More than 4500 certificates already issued!
|
The HTML Certificate documents your knowledge of HTML, XHTML, and CSS.
The JavaScript Certificate documents your knowledge of JavaScript and HTML DOM.
The XML Certificate documents your knowledge of XML, XML DOM and XSLT.
The ASP Certificate documents your knowledge of ASP, SQL, and ADO.
The PHP Certificate documents your knowledge of PHP and SQL (MySQL).
|