ASF: Using the JAXP Transform APIs

	Xalan XSL Transformer User's Guide
Using the JAXP Transform APIs

Using the JAXP Transform APIs

Introduction
General Terminology
Model
Patterns

Introduction

This document describes the transformation API for XML (TrAX), the set of APIs contained in javax.xml.transform, javax.xml.transform.stream, javax.xml.transform.dom, and javax.xml.transform.sax.

There is a broad need for Java applications to be able to transform XML and related tree-shaped data structures. In fact, XML is not normally very useful to an application without going through some sort of transformation, unless the semantic structure is used directly as data. Almost all XML-related applications need to perform transformations. Transformations may be described by Java code, Perl code, XSLT Stylesheets, other types of script, or by proprietary formats. The inputs, one or multiple, to a transformation, may be a URL, XML stream, a DOM tree, SAX Events, or a proprietary format or data structure. The output types are pretty much the same types as the inputs, but different inputs may need to be combined with different outputs.

The great challenge of a transformation API is how to deal with all the possible combinations of inputs and outputs, without becoming specialized for any of the given types.

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General Terminology

This section will explain some general terminology used in this document. Technical terminology will be explained in the Model section. In many cases, the general terminology overlaps with the technical terminology.

Tree

This term, as used within this document, describes an abstract structure that consists of nodes or events that may be produced by XML. A Tree physically may be a DOM tree, a series of well balanced parse events (such as those coming from a SAX2 ContentHander), a series of requests (the result of which can describe a tree), or a stream of marked-up characters.

Source Tree(s)

One or more trees that are the inputs to the transformation.

Result Tree(s)

One or more trees that are the output of the transformation.

Transformation

The process of consuming a stream or tree to produce another stream or tree.

Identity (or Copy) Transformation

The process of transformation from a source to a result, making as few structural changes as possible and no informational changes. The term is somewhat loosely used, as the process is really a copy from one "format" (such as a DOM tree, stream, or set of SAX events) to another.

Serialization

The process of taking a tree and turning it into a stream. In some sense, a serialization is a specialized transformation.

Parsing

The process of taking a stream and turning it into a tree. In some sense, parsing is a specialized transformation.

Transformer

A Transformer is the object that executes the transformation.

Transformation instructions

Describes the transformation. A form of code, script, or simply a declaration or series of declarations.

Stylesheet

The same as "transformation instructions," except it is likely to be used in conjunction with XSLT.

Templates

Another form of "transformation instructions." In the TrAX interface, this term is used to describe processed or compiled transformation instructions. The Source flows through a Templates object to be formed into the Result.

Processor

A general term for the thing that may both process the transformation instructions, and perform the transformation.

DOM

Document Object Model, specifically referring to the DOM level 3 Specification.

SAX

Simple API for XML, specifically referring to the SAX 2.0 release.

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Model

The section defines the abstract model for TrAX, apart from the details of the interfaces.

A TrAX TransformerFactory is an object that processes transformation instructions, and produces Templates (in the technical terminology). A Templates object provides a Transformer, which transforms one or more Sources into one or more Results.

To use the TrAX interface, you create a TransformerFactory, which may directly provide a Transformer, or which can provide Templates from a variety of Sources. The Templates object is a processed or compiled representation of the transformation instructions, and provides a Transformer. The Transformer processes a Source according to the instructions found in the Templates, and produces a Result.

The process of transformation from a tree, either in the form of an object model, or in the form of parse events, into a stream, is known as serialization .

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TrAX Patterns

The intent, responsibilities, and thread safety of TrAX objects:

Processor
TransformerFactory
Templates
Transformer
Source
Result

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Processor

Intent

Generic concept for the set of objects that implement the TrAX interfaces.

Responsibilities

Create compiled transformation instructions, transform sources, and manage transformation parameters and properties.

Thread safety

Only the Templates object can be used concurrently in multiple threads. The rest of the processor does not do synchronized blocking, and so may not be used to perform multiple concurrent operations.

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TransformerFactory

Intent

Serve as a vendor-neutral Processor interface for XSLT and similar processors.

Responsibilities

Serve as a factory for a concrete implementation of an TransformerFactory, serve as a direct factory for Transformer objects, serve as a factory for Templates objects, and manage processor specific features.

Thread safety