* Covers all the most recent XML core and related specificationsincluding XML 1.1, J2EE 1.4, Microsoft .NET's latest iteration, aswell as open source XML items from the Apache project.* Strong coverage of XML use with databases, transactions, andXML security.* Discusses both Microsoft (.NET) and Sun (Java) programmingintegration with XML, an approach not taken in any other book.* Presents extensive business examples, including several majorapplications developed throughout the book.* No previous exposure to XML is assumed.