What is XML? XML, or eXtensible Markup Language, is a metalanguage. That is, it's a language that can be used to describe other languages and a specification for storing information. Although XML and HTML may seem to have a lot in common, in reality the difference between them is like the difference between night and day. HTML is used to format information, but it isn't very useful when it comes to describing information. For example, you can use HTML to format a table, but you can't use HTML to describe the data elements within the table. The reason for this is that you can't really depict something as abstract as a distributor or a customer with HTML, which is where XML comes into the picture. XML can be, and is, used to define the structure of data rather than its format. This 50-page Fast Start guide begins by showing you the basics of the XML language and then builds on that knowledge to show you how to create an XML document.

What is Exchange Online? Exchange Online is available as part of an Office 365 plan and as a standalone service. Microsoft offers a variety of Office 365 plans that include access to Office Web Apps, the full desktop versions of Office, or both as well as access to Exchange Online. If you don't want to use Office 365, Microsoft also offers plans specifically for Exchange Online. In Exchange Online, email addresses, distribution groups, and other directory resources are stored in the directory database provided by Active Directory for Windows Azure. Windows Azure is Microsoft's cloud-based server operating system. Exchange Online fully supports the Windows security model and by default relies on this security mechanism to control access to directory resources. As you get started with Exchange Online, it's important to keep in mind that available features and options can change over time. Microsoft releases cumulative updates for Exchange on a fixed schedule and applies these cumulative updates to their hosted Exchange servers. This Fast Start guide begins by showing you the basics of Exchange Online, Office 365 and Windows Azure and then builds on that knowledge to show you how to work with these services using both the graphical tools and Windows PowerShell.

Anyone working with Windows computers can use Group Policy to simplify the application of common and repetitive tasks as well as unique tasks that are difficult to implement manually but can be easily automated. Group Policy includes both managed settings, referred to as policy settings, and unmanaged settings, referred to as policy preferences. Group Policy is in fact a collection of preferences and settings that can be applied to user and computer configurations.

Regardless of whether you are an IT manager, developer, administrator or an advanced user, this Fast Start guide will help you learn the essential concepts needed to successfully work with Group Policy.

Covers Group Policy for Windows Server 2008, Windows Server 2008 R2, Windows Server 2012, and Windows Server 2012 R2.

Get this Fast Start guide to quickly learn Active Directory fundamentals. Active Directory is the extensible directory service included in Windows Server that enables centralized management of network resources, allowing you to easily add, remove, or relocate accounts for users, groups, and computers as well as other types of resources. Nearly every task you perform in a Windows Server environment affects Active Directory in some way. Regardless of whether you are an IT manager, developer, administrator or an advanced user, this Fast Start guide will help you learn the essential concepts needed to successfully work with Active Directory. Covers Active Directory for Windows Server 2008, Windows Server 2008 R2, Windows Server 2012, and Windows Server 2012 R2.

Get this Fast Start guide to learn Windows 7 quickly. Windows 7 is more customizable than any earlier release of the Microsoft Windows operating system. Powerful features and options combined with traditional favorites allow you to work in new ways. You can perform tasks more efficiently, and you can optimize and customize the operating system in many ways.

Teaching you how to make Windows 7 work the way you want it to is what this book is all about. If you were moving in to a house, apartment, or dorm room, you would want to make the space your own. We do the same with just about everything in our lives, yet surprisingly few people take the time to make their virtual space their own, which can make using a computer a frustrating experience.

One of the ways to make Windows 7 your own is to customize the interface. In any operating system, the interface is everything that connects you to your computer and its basic elements, including the desktop, the menu system, and the taskbar. The way these essential elements look depends on appearance settings. The way they behave depends on customization settings associated with your user account.