Description: Introduces XML and related technologies focusing on their application in business, government, and technical communications. In addition to an overview of the raw materials needed to create and transform XML (DTDs, schemas, XSL and CSS stylesheets), the course introduces students to industry-standard solutions such as DocBook, DITA and the related tools, both commercial and open source. Students learn to create and validate XML documents and to transform them into a variety of output formats (HTML, CHM, PDF, RTF, MIF). Students also learn the origins and evolution of SGML and XML and how to evaluate the appropriateness of an XML-based solution for various situations they might encounter as professionals. Prerequisites: familiarity with HTML, strong computer skills.