There are a few things you need to decide before you create an XML document:

• Do you want to create an XML file that purely stores data?
  (see Step 1: A Basic XML File)
• Do you want to apply structural rules to your XML file?
  (see Step 2: Applying Structural Rules to an XML File)
• Do you want to display the data in your XML file on the Internet?
  (see Step 3: Applying Style to an XML File)

The following pages guide you through each of the scenarios listed. If you are new to XML, this is a good place to start. If you are familiar with XML, the following pages provide a good introduction to getting started in XMLwriter.