Using schemas with XML parser

[David Megginson]

Zehavi, Gil writes:

 > I wrote xml-data schema and instances that are based on that
 > schema, but I don't know how to combine them in order that the
 > parser (i'm using the Microsoft parser which is supposed to know
 > how to deal with schemas) will recognize that a schema is being
 > used. Putting both the schema and the instances in one files is not
 > good since the parser recognizes only one root. I don't know how to
 > link the two parts if they are defined in different files (my
 > application is not a web application). I can use DTD but the use of
 > schemas is very useful in my case.  I would appreciate any
 > information I can get.

You can have the best of both worlds: define your document type using
any high-level schema language (it doesn't have to be XML-Data), then
compile the schema into a standard XML 1.0 DTD for parsing or
distribution.  When you make any changes, make them to the high-level
original rather than to the DTD, then recompile.

This way, you can enjoy any advantages that the higher-level schema
language offers, but you are still interoperable with conformant XML
tools.  You also have the advantage of being able to choose (or
invent) any schema language.

I can imagine specialised fields inventing their own abstract (and
much simpler) schema languages that deal with only a few high-level,
domain-specific units (like tasks or forms or financial tables) rather
than low-level elements and attributes.  XML-Data will undoubtedly
satisfy some needs, there is probably not a one-size-fits-all solution
to schemas.

Has anyone written a compiler for XML-Data yet?


All the best,


David

-- 
David Megginson                 ak117 at freenet.carleton.ca
Microstar Software Ltd.         dmeggins at microstar.com
      http://home.sprynet.com/sprynet/dmeggins/

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