XSL: Technology Backgrounder

This content is no longer actively maintained. It is provided as is, for anyone who may still be using these technologies, with no warranties or claims of accuracy with regard to the most recent product version or service release.

XSL is an interpretation mechanism. It interprets, or transforms, XML data structures native to one source into data structures that can be understood by another source. In addition, XSL is used to change the XML presentation of information based upon the requirements of the recipient.

To work, the XSL must make assumptions about the incoming and outgoing XML. That is, the XSL assumes it already "knows" the format of the incoming XML, and, therefore, transforms that format into the known outgoing format.

For example, Microsoft® Access can read only XML data documents that are in the Access XML format, which is element centric. ActiveX data objects only can persist XML data documents in its format, which is attribute centric. Access cannot, therefore, read ADO XML data documents. However, Access does provide an XSL that takes the ADO XML data document, transforms the format, and produces an Access XML data document.

In the case of presentation, Access uses XSL presentation transformations to take the internal report representation, called ReportML, to produce a variety of other outputs, such as an XML-spreadsheet, HTML 4.0, and data access pages.

For export, Access supports the use of XSLs to transform Access XML into input XML documents and into a data shape that is for use by an external processor, or the transformation of Access ReportML into any presentation format. For import, Access supports the use of XSLs to transform the output from an external source into Access XML.

XSL Transformations in Access

See Also

Working with XML | XML Data Import | XML Data Export | Office Applications and XML | XSL: Technology Backgrounder | Access Forms and Reports Conversion | Working with XML in the Design Environment | Developing Office Developer Applications