Excel Data to XML

I cannot believe the video I just saw - Convert Excel Spreadsheet Data to XML. Wow - he makes it look easy! I'll have to try this out. If it really IS this easy, than I am sold on the idea of learning XML. Watch the video for yourself:



I'll report back later what I find out...
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Accessible PDFs

Xenos provides a way for corporations to create accessible .pdf documents, for the sight-impaired. The video below is quite interesting - it describes WHY this is a necessary web tool, and HOW it makes using the Web easier for many Americans.



One of the capabilities of XML is its facility in creating almost any type of file, whether for print or for the Web. I imagine the way the Xenos software works is in just such a way - it transforms information in an XML format into an accessible PDF file. Maybe we'll learn more about this in this class. In any case, it's nice to learn that the Web is becoming more accessible...
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XML is next...

I have signed up for Robert Cormia's counrse in XML, and am looking forward to it.  It may be a challenge, doing 12 weeks work in six weeks (and being "on-the-road" for one-third of that time!), but hopefully well-worth the time and effort and expense.  Biggest problem - I have so many projects in mind, it'll be hard deciding just where I want to focus. Recipes, photo albums, travel locations, household inventory - all look like they could use some XML coding.  Time will tell, what wins out...

Here's a few links that may be useful:

• Foothill College's COIN 78 - eXtensible Markup Language
• Google's Directory of XML Tutorials
• IBM's New to XML
• O'Reilly's XML from the Inside Out
• W3C Schools' Tutorial on XML
• W3C's XML Definitions

If any of my classmates (or instructor) come across this blog, feel free to add to it! Any information shared is appreciated.
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Apple Algorithms

GigaOM had a good article on How the Web Reads You. In it, they talk about how Apple uses algorithms to figure out what you want (and might buy!). In particular, they show how Apple operates it's Genius iTunes recommendations.  It's always good to know how the inner-engine works - check it out!
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