XSLT Transformations Research Articles

Development of an adaptive graphic web interface model for editing XML data

The ability of the end user to work with a large amount of data from a large number of heterogeneous sources and at the same time get an effective result from the work is carried out through the use of graphical web interfaces built on the basis of XML technologies that allow displaying any structure of a file presented in XML format. As a data exchange method between applications on the Web, XML still lacks capabilities for identification of web resources and a system that uses them, and capabilities to express the knowledge provided by XLM documents. In this study, a web interface has been developed (a web-based server application), as an XML records editor that provides display forms for the creation and editing of XML documents and is able to adapt to the internal resources of the system used. The technology is based on the XSD data set schema transformation by the way of XSLT transformations. Screen forms are generated on the server side and are provided to the user with all the necessary tools for correct input and/or editing of heterogeneous data. A distinguishing characteristic of this technology is the ability to display both properly and improperly formed XML data. The developed graphical interface allows any application to automatically exchange and read information from other applications without human intervention, which significantly improves performance and ease of use. This software solution could be used both as an independent data building and editing module presented in the XML format, and as a built-in module plugged into various server software for heterogeneous information management systems

Программное извлечение данных из word-документов на основе ситуационно-ориентированного подхода

The article discusses the use of situation-oriented approach to software processing word-documents. The documents under consideration are prepared by the user in the environment of the Microsoft Word processor or its analogs and are used in the future as data sources. The openness of the Office Open XML and Open Document Format made it possible to apply the concept of virtual documents mapped to ZIP archives for programmatic access to XML components of word documents in a situational environment. The importance of developing preliminary agreements regarding the placement of information in the document for subsequent search and retrieval, for example, using pre-prepared templates, is substantiated. For the DOCX and ODT formats, the article discusses the use of key phrases, bookmarks, content controls, custom XML components to organize the extraction of entered data. For each option, tree-like models of access to the extracted data, as well as the corresponding XPath expressions, are built. It is noted that the use of one or another option depends on the functionality and limitations of the word processor and is characterized by varying complexity of developing a blank template, entering data by the user and programming data extraction. The applied solution is based on entering metadata into the article using content controls placed in a stub template and bound to elements of a custom XML component. The developed hierarchical situational model of HSM provides extraction of an XML component, loading it into a DOM object and XSLT transformations to obtain the resulting data: an error report and JavaScript code for subsequent use of the extracted metadata.

XML-based DEVS modelling and simulation tracking

Discrete event system specification (DEVS) is a modelling and simulation formalism for discrete event dynamic systems. DEVS has known different variants and software implementations to meet specific needs. Unfortunately, these implementations do not necessarily share models and cannot capitalise on model reuse and data exchange. XML, as a meta-language, seems to be an appropriate language for helping modellers with weak programming knowledge. Indeed, XML is adopted as a standard for information exchange and knows an increasingly important use on the web. This work aims at determining an XML-based implementation of DEVS for devising an efficient modelling and simulation framework. After defining and validating our XML schemas, an execution step of these models is defined based on our XML abstract simulator which executes a set of XSLT transformations and generates an XML simulation tree describing the different steps of the system during the simulation time.

Intermediary XML schemas: constraint, templating and interoperability in complex environments

This article introduces the methodology of intermediary schemas for complex metadata environments. Metadata in instances conforming to these is not generally intended for dissemination but must usually be transformed by XSLT transformations to generate instances conforming to the referent schemas to which they mediate. The methodology is designed to enhance the interoperability of complex metadata within XML architectures. This methodology incorporates three subsidiary methods: these are project-specific schemas which represent constrained mediators to over-complex or over-flexible referents (Method 1), templates or conceptual maps from which instances may be generated (Method 2) and serialised maps of instances conforming to their referent schemas (Method 3). The three methods are detailed and their applications to current research in digital ecosystems, archival description and digital asset management and preservation are examined. A possible synthesis of the three is also proposed in order to enable the methodology to operate within a single schema, the Metadata Encoding and Transmission Standard (METS).

Leveraging workflow control patterns in the domain of clinical practice guidelines.

BackgroundClinical practice guidelines (CPGs) include recommendations describing appropriate care for the management of patients with a specific clinical condition. A number of representation languages have been developed to support executable CPGs, with associated authoring/editing tools. Even with tool assistance, authoring of CPG models is a labor-intensive task. We aim at facilitating the early stages of CPG modeling task. In this context, we propose to support the authoring of CPG models based on a set of suitable procedural patterns described in an implementation-independent notation that can be then semi-automatically transformed into one of the alternative executable CPG languages.MethodsWe have started with the workflow control patterns which have been identified in the fields of workflow systems and business process management. We have analyzed the suitability of these patterns by means of a qualitative analysis of CPG texts. Following our analysis we have implemented a selection of workflow patterns in the Asbru and PROforma CPG languages. As implementation-independent notation for the description of patterns we have chosen BPMN 2.0. Finally, we have developed XSLT transformations to convert the BPMN 2.0 version of the patterns into the Asbru and PROforma languages.ResultsWe showed that although a significant number of workflow control patterns are suitable to describe CPG procedural knowledge, not all of them are applicable in the context of CPGs due to their focus on single-patient care. Moreover, CPGs may require additional patterns not included in the set of workflow control patterns. We also showed that nearly all the CPG-suitable patterns can be conveniently implemented in the Asbru and PROforma languages. Finally, we demonstrated that individual patterns can be semi-automatically transformed from a process specification in BPMN 2.0 to executable implementations in these languages.ConclusionsWe propose a pattern and transformation-based approach for the development of CPG models. Such an approach can form the basis of a valid framework for the authoring of CPG models. The identification of adequate patterns and the implementation of transformations to convert patterns from a process specification into different executable implementations are the first necessary steps for our approach.

Discovery, Management, and Preservation of Geospatial Data Using Hydra

As a growing number of disciplines adopt geospatial technologies in their research, the need for access to geospatial data, in a variety of formats, has grown dramatically. For librarians to meet this demand, we also need to provide preservation, curation, metadata, and discovery services. GeoHydra, our open source toolkit and set of practices, provides these services for Stanford's libraries. We incorporate a variety of geospatial content types from raster imagery to scientific vector data to georeferenced scanned maps, and provide a data model for repositories. We demonstrate the potential of a new architecture and practice for librarianship for geospatial data using the Hydra framework. The digitization and georeferencing of historic map collections, streamlining the acquisition and cataloging of vendor-supplied data, shared cataloging of geographic resources, and citation of geospatial research data are all examples of use cases that GeoHydra serves. Our metadata creation and management strategies implement the ISO (International Standards Organization) suite of geographic standards, and a specialized metadata schema for discovery. We developed XSLT transformations, auto-generation of core elements, unique URIs for place names, and cross-institutional data sharing. With these metadata we built a novel geoportal, EarthWorks, to provide end-user discovery for geospatial data layers using GeoBlacklight technology.

An XSLT Transformation Method for Distributed XML

Recently, the sizes of XML documents have rapidly been increasing. Distributed XML is a novel form of XML document, in which an XML document is partitioned into fragments and managed separately in plural sites. Distributed XML documents can often be managed more easily than a single large document, due to geographical and/or administrative factors. In this paper, we propose a method for performing XSLT transformation efficiently for distributed XML documents. We assume that the expressive power of XSLT is restricted to an extended version of unranked top-down tree transducer. Our basic strategy is to transform all the XML fragments in parallel. We implemented our method in Ruby and made evaluation experiments. This result suggests that our method is more efficient than a centralized approach.

Model checking XSL transformations

The XSLT language is key technology to develop software which manipulates data encoded in XML, a versatile formalism widely adopted for information description and exchange. This motivates the adoption of formal techniques to certify the correctness (with respect to the expected output) and robustness (e.g., tolerance to malformed inputs) of the XSLT code. Unfortunately, such code cannot be validated using only static approaches (i.e., without executing it), due to the complexity of the XSLT formalism. In this paper we show how a software verification technology, namely the model checking, can be adapted to obtain an effective and easy to use XSLT validation framework. The core of the presented methodology is the XSLToMurphi algorithm, which is able to build a formal model of an XSLT transformation, suitable to be verified through the CMurphi tool.

Adding Domain Model Description for Web Services

For helping Web service consumers establish the corresponding relationship between terms of the domain conceptual model and date types in WSDL, this paper proposes a method to embed semantic annotation in the definition of data types in WSDL with XSLT transformation. So Web service consumers can understand better the meaning of the data with this bidirectional relationship and thus further ensure they use Web services correctly. The additional benefit obtained from this method is that Web service annotators are able to find corresponding concept terms not built in the conceptual model so as to help them accomplish annotating conveniently.

Building ontologies for different natural languages

Ontology construction of a certain domain is an important step in applying the Semantic web. A number of software tools adapted for building domain ontologies of most wide-spread natural languages are available, but accomplishing that for any given natural language presents a challenge. Here we propose a semi-automatic procedure to create ontologies for different natural languages. Our approach utilizes various software tools available on the Internet most notably DODDLE-OWL - a domain ontology development tool implemented for English and Japanese languages. By using this tool, WordNet, Prot?g? and XSLT transformations, we propose a general procedure to construct domain ontology for any natural language.

METS as an 'Intermediary' Schema for a Digital Library of Complex Scientific Multimedia

The use of the Metadata Encoding and Transmission Standard (METS) schema as a mechanism for delivering a digital library of complex scientific multimedia is examined as an alternative to the Fedora Content Model (FCM). Using METS as an 'intermediary' schema, where it functions as a template which is populated with content metadata on-the-fly using an XSLT transformation, it is possible to replicate the flexibility of structure and granularity of FCM while avoiding its complexity and often substantial demands on developers.

Conversion of bibliographic records to MARC 21 format

PurposeThe aim of this research is the conversion of the bibliographic records between the following different formats for bibliographic material processing – the YUMARC (which is a variant of the UNIMARC format in which the Serbian BISIS system operates), UNIMARC and MARC 21 format.Design/methodology/approachThe CASE tools that support the information system developing methodology based on the XML technologies are used.FindingsThe result is the specification and implementation of information requirements for the conversion of the bibliographic records created in the BISIS system into the UNIMARC or MARC 21 format.Research limitations/implicationsThe specification of the rules for bibliographic record conversion is not formalized, so the implementation of these rules cannot be done automatically. If the rules could be formalized, then a generator of the programming code could be developed for the implementation of the rules for the bibliographic record conversion.Practical implicationsThe research result is applied for the conversion of the YUMARC bibliographic records in the Library of the Department for Mathematics and Informatics of Novi Sad University. The conversion of the records is made at first into the UNIMARC format and subsequently from the UNIMARC format into the records of the MARC 21 format. The task of conversion of the bibliographic records formed in the BISIS software system in the UNIMARC or the MARC 21 format is solved in that way.Originality/valueThe originality of the work is contained in the application of the XML technologies for the conversion of the bibliographic records between the different bibliographic formats (YUMARC, UNIMARC and MARC 21). For each of the formats an XML schema is formed and record conversion between the different formats is done by the XSLT transformations.

Semantic processing based on eye-tracking metrics

This paper proposes a framework for capturing semantics from eye tracking data during the process of text skimming/scanning by readers of electronic documents and HTML user interfaces. RDFa and HTML microformats are some of the easier ways proposed by the Semantic Web paradigm for embedding semantics in web pages. XSLT transformations or specialized parsers may easily convert such documents to RDF/XML semantic repositories. However, semantics do not usually have an absolute character. Although a variety of web 2.0 oriented ontologies and microformats have been widely adopted or even standardized (Dublin Core, FOAF, XFN etc.), in order to achieve semantic interoperability, there are scenarios in which user-relative semantics are especially important, such as in the development of customization engines (web session customization, recommender systems, targeted advertising), when a certain user must only share semantics with himself or with similar persons. Having the same web document, different readers would attach various semantics and relevance to the ideas, concepts or structural blocks of the document. Eye tracking is an emerging field with multiple applications in medicine, marketing, cognitive sciences and others, which allows the extraction of data regarding the eye activity of a user during human-computer interaction. Eye tracking data is valuable in measuring reading patterns, user experience and reflects the specific parts of an image or documents that attract the user's interest.

A standard transformation from XML to RDF via XSLT

AbstractA generic transformation of XML data into the Resource Description Framework (RDF) and its implementation by XSLT transformations is presented. It was developed by the grid integration project for robotic telescopes of AstroGrid‐D to provide network communication through the Remote Telescope Markup Language (RTML) to its RDF based information service. The transformation's generality is explained by this example. It automates the transformation of XML data into RDF and thus solves this problem of semantic computing. Its design also permits the inverse transformation but this is not yet implemented (© 2009 WILEY‐VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim)

Interview with David Brailsford

David Brailsford is the John Dunford Emeritus Professor of Computer Science at the University of Nottingham, UK. In 1986 he co-founded the Computer Science department and he was appointed to the Dunford chair in 1990. He served as Head of Department from 1990 to 1998. Since 1982 his research interests have focused on digital documents and on document engineering. He was General Chair for the first of the biennial "EP" conferences, which was held in Nottingham in 1986. This conference series then transformed into the annual, ACM-sponsored, Document Engineering Symposium from 2001 onwards. He has been on the program committee for these conferences since 1986 and he served as Program Chair for DocEng2006. In 1988 he founded the Wiley journal "Electronic Publishing" which he edited for 10 years. Arising from this journal John Wiley Ltd funded a long-running research project, at Nottingham, on the automated internal hyperlinking of journals in PDF format. This led to a further collaboration with Wendy Hall, at the University of Southampton, on the more general hyperlinking of journal articles in a variety of formats. David has collaborated with Adobe Systems Inc. on digital document research for more than 20 years. His research group became the first UK beta test site for Adobe Acrobat in 1992 and, over the years, six of his graduate students have supplemented their research training by undertaking summer internships at Adobe. Most of the joint research has centered around structured document components in PDF but more recently interest has turned to the possibilities for rich media documents in Adobe's AIR. Since 2003 his Document Engineering Research Group has also collaborated with HP Laboratories on research topics ranging from XSLT transformations through to Variable Data Printing and eBooks.

XSLT‐based evolutions and analyses of design patterns

AbstractDesign patterns document flexible designs that may evolve over time. Design pattern evolution typically involves the addition or removal of a group of modeling elements, such as classes, attributes, operations, and relationships. However, the possible evolutions of each design pattern are often not explicitly documented. Missing part of the evolution process may result in inconsistent evolution. Pattern instances may interact with each other making the evolution of design patterns more error‐prone. Undetected design errors and inconsistencies may cause failures of systems. In this paper, we propose a service‐oriented architecture for design pattern evolution and analysis based on two‐level transformations, thus making the possible evolutions of each design pattern explicit. In addition, we automate the evolution processes as XSLT transformations that can transform the unified modeling language (UML) model of a design pattern application into the evolved UML model of the pattern. Both the original and evolved UML models are represented in the XML Metadata Interchange format to facilitate the transformations. Furthermore, we check the consistency of the evolution results using the semantic web checker based on the Java Theorem Prover. A case study on a large real‐world system is presented to illustrate and evaluate our approach. Copyright © 2009 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.

Introduction to Linguistic Annotation and Text Analytics

Linguistic annotation and text analytics are active areas of research and development, with academic conferences and industry events such as the Linguistic Annotation Workshops and the annual Text Analytics Summits. This book provides a basic introduction to both fields, and aims to show that good linguistic annotations are the essential foundation for good text analytics. After briefly reviewing the basics of XML, with practical exercises illustrating in-line and stand-off annotations, a chapter is devoted to explaining the different levels of linguistic annotations. The reader is encouraged to create example annotations using the WordFreak linguistic annotation tool. The next chapter shows how annotations can be created automatically using statistical NLP tools, and compares two sets of tools, the OpenNLP and Stanford NLP tools. The second half of the book describes different annotation formats and gives practical examples of how to interchange annotations between different formats using XSLT transformations. The two main text analytics architectures, GATE and UIMA, are then described and compared, with practical exercises showing how to configure and customize them. The final chapter is an introduction to text analytics, describing the main applications and functions including named entity recognition, coreference resolution and information extraction, with practical examples using both open source and commercial tools. Copies of the example files, scripts, and stylesheets used in the book are available from the companion website, located at http://sites.morganclaypool.com/wilcock. Table of Contents: Working with XML / Linguistic Annotation / Using Statistical NLP Tools / Annotation Interchange / Annotation Architectures / Text Analytics

Internet-based system for anti-tumor chemotherapy evaluation

The Internet-based system DIOS addresses the issues of anti-tumor chemotherapy and its evaluation. The repository of chemotherapeutic regimens (CHRs) stored in XML structured format constitutes the core of the system. Several applications have been created based on this repository, in order to allow users to browse current CHRs and procedures of planning and evaluation of chemotherapy based on the dose intensity concept. This freely available system uses technology based on the XML standard and XSLT transformations.

An architecture for electronic field guides

People who classify and identify things based on their observable or deducible properties (called "characters" by biologists) can benefit from databases and keys that assist them in naming a specimen. This paper discusses our approach to generating an identification tool based on the field guide concept. Our software accepts character lists either expressed as XML (which biologists rarely provide knowingly--although most databases can now export in XML) or via ODBC connections to the data author's relational database. The software then produces an Electronic Field Guide (EFG) implemented as a collection of Java servlets. The resulting guide answers queries made locally to a backend, or to Internet data sources via http, and returns XML. If, however, the query client requires HTML (e.g., if the EFG is responding to a human-centric browser interface that we or the remote application provides), or if some specialized XML is required, then the EFG forwards the XML to a servlet that applies an XSLT transformation to provide the look and feel that the client application requires. We compare our approach to the architecture of other taxon identification tools. Finally, we discuss how we combine this service with other biodiversity data services on the web to make integrated applications.

Experiment on and analysis of mobile content transformation using XSLT

AbstractMuch attention is being paid to the services that are accessed via the Internet from mobile phones and PDAs. For such mobile Internet services, the WAP Forum issued the WAP 2.0 standard based on IETF/W3C standards. WAP 2.0 adopted the subset of eXtensible HyperText Markup Language (XHTML) and Cascading Style Sheets (CSS) standardized by World Wide Web Consortium (W3C), as its markup language. The i‐mode service in Japan was launched in February 1999, and has acquired over 40 million users, as of January 2004. The markup language adopted in the i‐mode service is called i‐mode HTML, and was designed around Compact HTML. To ease the migration from i‐mode HTML to the WAP 2.0 markup language, the functional compatibility of the languages should be assured. To this end, we proposed functions unique to i‐mode HTML to the WAP Forum. The WAP Forum accepted all of our proposals. For making the migration more cost‐effective, software tools that support the transformation of i‐mode HTML content to the WAP 2.0 equivalents must be established. There are two approaches to content transformation: software‐based and rule‐based. Since the software‐based approach has some drawbacks such as a lack of extensibility and a lack of accountability, we have taken the rule‐based approach. We focused on eXtensible Stylesheet Language Transformation (XSLT) as the content transformation technique, because XSLT has been standardized by W3C for rule‐based transformation between XML contents. To technically verify the applicability of XSLT for content transformation from i‐mode HTML to the WAP 2.0 markup language, we performed an extensive XSLT transformation experiment using existing i‐mode service contents. In this paper, we describe content transformation using XSLT, overview the content transformation system, and analyze the results of the content transformation experiment. Copyright © 2006 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.