XHTML is a flexible XML-based markup language for designing Web sites. In January 2000, the W3C announced that it was supporting the development of XHTML as a replacement to HTML. HTML will continue to be around for a while, but if you want to develop Web sites for the future you need to switch to XHTML. Designers who make the change find that they can develop faster, better sites using XHTML. Most Web sites are interactive, responding to the viewer. To do this you need to use a scripting language - JavaScript is the most popular scripting language and interfaces easily with XHTML. To develop powerful interactive Web sites you need to understand these technologies and how they work together. Essential XHTML fast gives you everything you need to develop great Web sites in XHTML, including an introduction to scripting with JavaScript so that you can create dynamic interactive Web pages. There are many step-by-step examples, which you can download from the series Web site. It covers key aspects such as: - The relationship between XML and XHTML - Cascading Style sheets for formatting layout - Using text, images and image maps as links - Creating and using tables - The new standard for frames - Interactive XHTML forms - The JavaScript language - Incorporating JavaScript into XHTML pages - Handling events in JavaScript The source code for the examples in this book is available at the Essential series web site http://www.essential-series.com.

A quick and practical introduction to the C# programming language. The text includes complete programing examples that highlight the core features of this language. In this book you will learn about: Using C# with a traditional compile run cycle, using C# within the Developer Studio environment, different data types supported in C#, control structures and input and output (i/o) in C#, key features of C# and their relationship to C, C++, Java and other programming languages.

Starting with an introduction to the development environment, Fiaz Hussain presents a quick and effective guide to the powerful components that make up Macromedia Director 8.5. using a hands-on approach and plenty of illustrations.

RenderMan has long been associated with top-end film production and is an essential tool for creating many of the effects and images in recent animated films (such as Final Fantasy, Monsters, Inc., Stuart Little, Pearl Harbour and Dinosaur). RenderMan is widely available and, with the demand for higher quality images, is now used by computer-based artists at all levels of the graphics industry. Essential RenderMan fast is a practical introduction to producing images using a RenderMan renderer, and getting the most from RenderMan. You will gain access to the power of RenderMan, which has previously only been available to the elite of the Computer Graphics community! With plenty of illustrations and hands-on examples, Ian Stephenson: gives an overview of RenderMan.- explains how scenes are described.- illustrates (among other things) how to create surfaces; colour; lighting; shadows; and depth of field, using RIB and the C API.- introduces the techniques involved in creating and applying textures and shading. Additional material is available from the Essential series website: http://www.essential-series.com

The emerging Second-Generation Web is based entirely on XML and related technologies. It is intended to result in the creation of the Semantic Web, on which computers will be able to deal with the meaning ("semantics") of Web data and hence to process them in a more effective and autono mous way. This new version of the Web introduces a multitude of novel concepts, terms, and acronyms. Purpose, Scope and Methods This dictionary is an effort to specify the terminological basis of emerging XML and Semantic Web technologies. The ultimate goal of this dictionary is even broader than just to define the meaning of newwords - itaims to develop aproper understandingofthese leading-edge technologies. To achieve this, comprehensible definitions of technical terms are supported by numerous diagrams and code snippets, clearly annotated and explained. The main areas covered in this dictionary are: (1) XML syntax and core technologies, such as Namespaces, Infoset and XML Schema; (2) all the major membersofthe XML family oftechnologies, such as XSLT, XPath and XLink; (3) numerous XML-based domain-specific languages, such as NewsML (News Markup Language); (4) the concept and architecture of the Semantic Web; (5) key Semantic Web technologies,such as RDF (Resource Description Framework), RDF Schema and OWL (Web Ontology Language); and (6) Web services, including WSDL (Web Services Description Lan guage) and SOAP (Simple Object Access Protocol).

Think you have to be a technical wizard to build a great web site? Think again. If you want to create an engaging web site, this thoroughly revised, completely updated edition of Creating a Web Site: The Missing Manual demystifies the process and provides tools, techniques, and expert guidance for developing a professional and reliable web presence. Whether you want to build a personal web site, an e-commerce site, a blog, or a web site for a specific occasion or promotion, this book gives you detailed instructions and clear-headed advice for: Everything from planning to launching. From picking and buying a domain name, choosing a Web hosting firm, building your site, and uploading the files to a web server, this book teaches you the nitty-gritty of creating your home on the Web. Ready-to-use building blocks. Creating your own web site doesn't mean you have to build everything from scratch. You'll learn how to incorporate loads of pre-built and freely available tools like interactive menus, PayPal shopping carts, Google ads, and Google Analytics. The modern Web. Today's best looking sites use powerful tools like Cascading Style Sheets (for sophisticated page layout), JavaScript (for rollover buttons and cascading menus), and video. This book doesn't treat these topics as fancy frills. From step one, you'll learn easy ways to create a powerful site with these tools. Blogs. Learn the basics behind the Web's most popular form of self-expression. And take a step-by-step tour through Blogger, the Google-run blogging service that will have you blogging before you close this book. This isn't just another dry, uninspired book on how to create a web site. Creating a Web Site: The Missing Manual is a witty and intelligent guide you need to make your ideas and vision a web reality.