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Title: It's an Introduction, not a Handbook
Review: As an "Introduction to XML", why XML could be important and useful to you, and why XML is an intelligent evolution of data handling this book recieves 3.5 stars. Could have been 4 if there were a good editor on staff who trimed all the duplication and excess verbiage. I think the authors must have been paid by the pound instead of by the word.As "the XML Handbook" it's almost useless. Sure, as other reviewers have noted, there is some good stuff in the last few chapters but it's too hard to get at to be useful. And usefulness in my lexicon is mandatory for a "handbook". Other handbook requisites are lightweight (easy to pack around), concise and easily understood wording, and a complete index. This book fails on all counts.I learned things and I'm glad I read it. Very sorry I paid $70cdn for it. I won't be buying anything else in this series or from these authors.
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