RE: XSLT Editor? Help Please (from a newbie)

The purpose of an XSLT file is to create a specific kind of output. I'm having trouble understanding what a "preliminary, generic XSLT file" might be. 

One answer may be an XSLT file that exactly reproduces the input XML file. Another might be an XSLT file that produces a second XSLT file with a template rule for each unique element name and attribute name in the XML document.  You would want a second, similar XSLT file that took your XSD file as input. At that point you would have to write the code inside the template that produces the output you want. 

I have found XMLSpy to be useful in generating a rudimentary XSD document from an XML data document, but as an experienced XSLT programmer I don't see how what you ask for would be of much use to a newcomer. If I have misunderstood your question, please reformulate it and ask again.

-- 
Charles Knell
cknell@xxxxxxxxxx - email



-----Original Message-----
From:     Jarrell R. Dunson, III <jarrell_dunson@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>
Sent:     Tue, 11 May 2004 11:15:55 -0400
To:       <xsl-list@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>
Subject:   XSLT Editor? Help Please (from a newbie)

Hey everyone,

- I'm a newbie to XSLT ...and am trying to learn. Can you help?


  *** What do you use as an editor for your XSLT documents. ***


- I'm trying to find a software tool...where a user can generate a
prelimnary, generic XSLT file based on
the format of an XSD file (or XML file)...that's fairly cheap in price.

- I recently bought XMLSpy Home Edition...and was impressed by its ability
to help a user create an
XML Schema (XSD) file, and the XML file itself....but was sorely
dissappointed when it came to
creating an XSLT output file.  The answer from the helpdesk was that users
of XMLSpy Home must
manually code their XSLT documents - and that there's more available in the
Professional
Version (The jump to XMLSpy Professional is about $450).

- XMLSpy also has Stylevision that will help form (or map) XSLT
documents...but the  purchase price is just under $400.


However, not wanting to go with a $400 jump ....I've been looking elsewhere:

- I've looked at:
	-- XSLMaker ($349),
	-- Contivo ($199),
	-- EZxslt ($129),
	-- Stylus Studio ($395),
	-- Saxon (Unk price for professional version),
	-- Treebeard,
	-- Cocoon,
	-- Komodo and Visual XSLT have cheaper end, educational version...
	...and others.

- I've tried GNU, Oreilly XML, Surgeforge.net...

- The best tool I've found is Notetab (see www.notetab.com) , with the free
XSLT clip library...but it
is still a highly, manual process..

- Do you have any recommendations? ...on good, cheaper-end software
tool....?

Thanks ahead of time,

Jarrell



Jarrell R. Dunson, III
Asbury Theological Seminary
Administrative Computing Coordinator
Jarrell_Dunson@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
(859) 858-2379 (direct)
(859) 858-2330 (fax)