This book is the best I have found so far on SharePoint Designer.

I feel like I have just scratched the surface. Can people recommend further reading and resources on the following topics (Sans Visual Studio?)

1. XML Web Part - with clear and operational examples on how to create the related XLS and XSLT?

2. Form web Part

3. Creating Javascript that can get data from SharePoint Controls, Set data in SharePoint Controls, and show calculations in non-SharePoint controls, thus giving the user a feeling of an interactive calculator?

4. Examples of WSS talking to web services.

Thanks for the compliment! I'm glad you liked it.

I see you found the answer to your original question in one of my posts.

As for the other questions, you might check out http://www.endusersharepoint.com. Lots of Dataview and client-side scripting articles there.

There are also alot of articles around (including on the site referenced above) on using JQuery to enhance the SharePoint experience. While there are some good tips there, I would be cautious about using JQuery to directly manipulate the individual rendered components in standard SharePoint list views. Much of the information used for that is not formally documented by Microsoft, and is therefore subject to change.

__________________
- Woody -

1) a good step by step on the BDC?

2) I have a client that wants me to do nice rollup stuff, like the kind that CorasWorks workplace suite eats for Lunch, but they won't buy the suite. Any resouces you can rcommend?

For the BDC question, have you looked at MVP Nick Swan's Using the BDC chapter in our Real World SharePoint book:
http://www.wrox.com/WileyCDA/WroxTit..._chapters.html

It's available as either just the single chapter in PDF for $4.99 or as part of the whole printed book for $49.99.

Don't have a suggestion on the other question, hopefully someone else does.

__________________
Jim Minatel
Associate Publisher
Wiley Technology Publishing
WROX Press
Blog: http://p2p.wrox.com/content/blogs/jminatel
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CorasWorks now has an "AppEngine" where you can download helpful apps and you don't have to purchase the suite to use them, they just run on top of SharePoint. This might have solutions that you and your client are looking for but with a much lower cost than purchasing the suite.
http://community.corasworks.net/appshome.aspx