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| April 2001 | |
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| DeveloperNet University Course | |
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Custom DirXML Driver Development Course Introduction
Welcome to the Custom DirXML Driver Development course. This is one of a series of DeveloperNet University courses which help you learn Novell Directory Services (NDS) programming.
Even though this course will help you to learn how to build custom DirXML Drivers, you still will not be able to deliver a full DirXML solution just from the knowledge you gain here, considerable as it will be. You will also need DirXML integration training to ensure that DirXML is deployed properly. For more information, visit www.novell.com/partners/dirxml/index.html.
Course Description Table
| Course Description
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This course takes you through the process of programming a
custom DirXML driver named PBXSimulator. The purpose of a
DirXML driver is to allow enterprises to synchronize their
directory information across disparate applications in their
network.
The DirXML driver developed in this course provides an example of developing a simple, yet comprehensive DirXML driver for a less than optimal sample application. |
| Course Objective
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At the end of this course, you will be able to create a custom
DirXML driver to connect NDS to a disparate application directory.
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| Estimated Time to
Take this Course
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To completely work through every module of this course takes
about 32 hours of sustained effort.
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| Prerequisites
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Ability to read simple XML documents.
Intermediate Java programming skills Intermediate NDS administration skills. Also, you must be a DeveloperNet subscriber. A DeveloperNet subscription (Electronic Level subscription) is available free at http://developer.novell.com/. |
| Required Items
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See "Required Setup."
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| Optional Items
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None
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| Required Setup
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A Windows NT workstation or server with the following already
installed:
JDK 1.1.8 (Java Developers Kit) - free download is available at: http://www.javasoft.com/products/jdk/1.1/download-jdk-windows.html Novell's eDirectory 8.5- a trial copy is available at the URL below: http://www.novell.com/download/#NDS ConsoleOne 1.2.d-c (extended for DirXML [happens in eDirectory install]) DirXML 1.0- this is available in the DirXML SDK, available at: http://www.developer.novell.com/ndk/downloadaz.htm Installing the DirXML SDK will put an NDK directory in c:\Novell\NDS\. Double-click c:\Novell\NDS\NDK\DirXML\Engine\nt\install.exe to install DirXML in eDirectory. During the installation:
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| Development Environment
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The procedures discussed in this article were tested using a
200 MHZ Pentium-based workstation with 128 MB RAM, running
Windows NT 4.0/SP4, NDS for NT 8.5, DirXML 1.0, JDK 1.1.8,
and ConsoleOne 1.2.d-c.
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The course consists of "blocks" of lessons and optional Self Checks.
Course Contents Table
| Introduction
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The introduction is what you are reading
now. The Highlighted block in the course
graphic at the top of the page denotes
this.
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DirXML Concepts
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The "DirXML Concepts" describe the pieces
of DirXML and how they interact. To successfully
complete this course, you must
have a firm understanding of DirXML concepts.
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| DirXML Concepts Exam (optional)
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Assess your understanding of DirXML concepts.
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PBXSimulator Lab Project
Description
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To successfully complete this course, you
must have a firm understanding of the
driver you are trying to write. The "Driver
Lab Concepts" section describes the driver
you will develop during this course.
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| Driver Lab Concepts Exam
(optional)
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Assess your understanding of what the
PBXSimulator DirXML driver does and how
it works.
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Lab 1: Installing the Basic Lab
Driver
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Much of the task in developing a custom
DirXML driver solution is determining how
to configure it. This lab will take you
through the process of manually hooking
up all of the bits and pieces necessary to
use DirXML to synchronize the PBXSimulator
application with NDS.
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Java Programming Projects
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Writing a DirXML shim requires that you
are able to interpret NDS.DTD and manipulate
XML documents using the W3C's Document
Object Model (DOM). This section
will examine how to use DOM APIs to
obtain XML elements from a DOM Document.
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Lab 3: Programming Input
Parameter Parsing
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The "Shim Programming Labs" section will
give you experience in writing Java code
for the DirXML Driver, Publication, and
Subscription driver shims.
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Introduction to DirXML
Stylesheet Programming
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Stylesheet programming is the preferred
way to implement business rules in your
DirXML driver. This section will examine
how to interpret and write XSLT and
XPATH, the two languages needed to program
stylesheets.
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| Stylesheet Programming Exam
(optional)
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Assess your understanding of Stylesheet
programming.
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Lab 6: Programming Input/Output
Stylesheets
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The "Stylesheet Programming Lab" section
will give you experience in writing XSLT
and XPATH code for an Input Transform
(identity transformation) stylesheet.
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| Query Programming
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Queries are sent by either DirXML or the
driver to gain more information about an
object or objects in either NDS or the
external application.
This section explains why queries are sent and how to implement code to handle them in your driver shims. |
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Implementing Queries
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Exam (optional) Assess your understanding
of Query programming.
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Release Notes:
- Throughout this course, Java's System.out.println( ) is used for debugging and informational purposes. This was done for simplicity's sake. However, it is recommended that programmers research using the features of com.novell.xsl.debug.Trace for these purposes.
- Throughout this course, it is recommended that input transforms be performed in an input stylesheet instead of a shim if the external system is XML conversant. However, programmers should also research the option of calling the input stylesheets to perform the transformation from the shim.
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