Introduction The Apache XML Delivery Toolkit (AxKit) is a suite of tools for the Apache httpd server running mod_perl, that give developers extremely flexible options for delivering XML to all kinds of browsers, from handheld systems, Braille readers, and ordinary browsers. All this can be achieved using nothing but W3C standards, although the plugin architecture provides the hooks for developers to write their own stylesheet systems, should they so desire. Two non-W3C stylesheet systems are included as examples. The toolkit provides full intelligent caching, which ensures that if any parameters in the display of the XML file change, the cache is overwritten. The toolkit also provides hooks for DOM based stylesheets to cascade. This allows (for example) the initial stylesheet to provide menu items and table of contents, while the final stylesheet formats the finished file to the desired look. It's also possible to provide multiple language support this way. Installation Installation is relatively simple, provided you already have mod_perl installed on your Apache server. Download the toolkit and extract. Then in the new directory created type: perl Makefile.PL make make test make install Then add the following lines to your httpd.conf, or .htaccess file: PerlTypeHandler +Apache::AxKit::XMLFinder PerlHandler +Apache::AxKit::StyleFinder PerlSetVar StylesheetMap "application/x-xpathscript => \ Apache::AxKit::Language::XPathScript" The StylesheetMap is the only thing you need to change if you add more stylesheet processing systems (or develop your own). You're now ready to start delivering XML files with Apache::XPathScript, a system which combines XPath and ASP-like syntax. Type "perldoc Apache::XPathScript" for a brief overview of the syntax. Associating XML Files with Stylesheets The method by which you associate stylesheets with XML files is detailed at http://www.w3.org/TR/xml-stylesheet and also in the HTML 4.0 specification which the above links to. In brief, to associate an XML file with an XpathScript stylesheet, add the following processing instruction to the top of the file, just after the declaration: That is the simplest form that processing instruction can take. See the above link for more details and options. Download The latest version of AxKit can always be found at http://xml.sergeant.org/download/. Mailing List For questions about AxKit, please join the mailing list, by sending a blank mail to: axdtk-subscribe@sergeant.org. This is an ezmlm mailing list. Archive The archive of the mailing list, containing some useful information and tidbits, is at http://xml.sergeant.org/cgi-bin/ezmlm-cgi/2.