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Working with Tables

In an SPS, two types of tables are used: SPS tables and XML tables. There are crucial differences between the two types, and it is important to understand these. This section contains a detailed description of SPS tables and XML tables, and instructions about how to use them. For now, we look at the broad picture.

The illustration below shows the relationship of SPS tables and XML tables to the SPS and to the XML document.

SPS tables

An SPS table is a component of an SPS, and is created and formatted using StyleVision. If present in an SPS, an SPS table appears in Authentic View as well as in the XSLT stylesheets you generate with StyleVision.

The structure of an SPS table is specified by the person who designs the SPS. An SPS table can be created anywhere in an SPS, and any number of SPS tables can be created.

SPS tables are entirely presentational devices and are represented using the presentational vocabulary of Authentic View and the output format. The structure of an SPS table is not represented by nodes in the XML document—although the content of table cells may come from nodes in the XML document. SPS tables occur in three types of output:

There are two types of SPS tables:

XML tables

An XML table is created by the Authentic View user as a data structure in the XML document. The purpose of XML tables is to give the Authentic View user the option of inserting a table-type data structure in the XML document. This XML data structure can then be transformed to the table markup of the output format.

The data structure for an XML table must correspond to either the HTML or CALS table model. One element in the XML document corresponds to the table element of the CALS or HTML table model, and must have a substructure that corresponds to either the CALS or HTML table model. An XML table can be inserted at any point in the XML document where it is allowed according to the schema. An XML table is formatted after it is inserted in the XML document.

Shown below is the Authentic View of an XML table that corresponds to the HTML table model.

Data that is entered into the table's cells is entered as content of the corresponding XML elements. For example, the HTML text fragment for the XML table shown in the illustration above looks like this:

<table border="1" width="40%">

<tbody>

   <tr>

     <td>Name</td>

     <td>Phone</td>

   </tr>

   <tr>

     <td>John Merrimack</td>

     <td>6517890</td>

   </tr>

   <tr>

     <td>Joe Concord</td>

     <td>6402387</td>

   </tr>

</tbody>

</table>

The original XML document might look like this:

<phonelist border="1" width="40%">

<items>

   <person>

     <name>Name</name>

     <phone>Phone</phone>

   </person>

   <person>

     <name>John Merrimack</name>

     <phone>6517890</phone>

   </person>

   <person>

     <name>Joe Concord</name>

     <phone>6402387</phone>

   </person>

</items>

</phonelist>

Note that the element names in the XML document have no relation to table terminology; the table structure, however, corresponds to the HTML table model (it could also correspond to the CALS table model in order to be allowed as an XML table). Also note the following:

Note that XSLT stylesheets generated with StyleVision will not contain XML tables—because no template for the XML table is automatically  included in the SPS.

Summary for designer

From the document designer's perspective, the following points should be noted:

See also:

Creating Static Tables, for a description of how to use static tables.

Creating Dynamic Tables, for a description of how to use dynamic tables.

XML Tables, for a description of how to work with table structures that are defined in the XML document.