rwohlgemuth

I'm looking at learning XML so I can start playing with skin creation etc but have no experience. Could someone let me know which of these books would be the best to get?

O'Reilly books

retired_souldivine_04

I would start by looking online and following some tutorials rather than rushing straight to the book shop. The online resources are often more up to date than a book can be and you will almost always find yourself google'ing a problem that your book can't answer.
I would recommended starting by going through the w3schools examples http://www.w3schools.com/xml/default.asp

Norfolk_boy

I wouldn't bother with books, they really can't teach you anything worthwhile for skinning. XML isn't a programming language or anything, it's purely for layout like HTML.

You just need to know the basics and you can learn those from looking at some of the files already there. SI re-wrote everything for the FM series giving objects understandable names and making it far more user friendly. I mean, if you saw "stick_to_sides_attachment" and "left" in a line of XML it's fairly self explanitory. Code is indented/spaced too so different sections are obvious.

Compare how an area looks and how the XML makes it look like that, change a few things here and there.

Don't get over-awed either. It might look big and scary but it's simple. Anyone can do xml with some basic common sense and patience.

rwohlgemuth

Rules me out then :p

Was just asking as there's a chance I could get one of those books for free through a contact, so I just wondered which would be best for me?

Norfolk_boy

Well, as I said it's not really a language that you 'learn' as such.

That list of books covers XML in a totally different context (integration with other languages etc) to what would apply here with skinning.

You'd get more from diving in and getting your hand dirty, honestly. It'd most probably just be a waste of your time.

rwohlgemuth

OK. Cheers :thup: