How Do I Find an XML Schema? (Magic xpa 3.x)
In order to create an XML doc, you first need an XML schema. A schema is something like a database definition; it defines the format of each item in the database, whether it is required, unique, and has sub-items. If you have not dealt with XML before, it helps to learn something about it before you start.
If you are being asked to read an XML document, the schema will already exist, and you will just use it. If you are creating an XML document to send someone else, then you can either design the schema manually or use an external product, such as XML Spy. The schema will be in a text file that ends in .xsd.
In either case, once the schema exists, it is a simple matter to create the XML definitions in Magic xpa.
The schema describes complex data relationships. In essence, it can describe an entire database, consisting of multiple separate and nested tables. In order to use these as data sources, you need to select parts of the schema and describe them as individual flat data sources, called XML Views.
|
Productions
|
Complex type
|
|
|
StudioList
|
Complex type
|
|
|
Studio
|
Complex type
|
|
|
Name
|
Simple Type
|
xs:string
|
|
Code
|
Simple Type
|
StudioCodeType
|
|
TitleList
|
Complex type
|
|
|
Title
|
Complex type
|
|
|
name
|
Simple Type
|
xs:string
|
|
listPrice
|
Simple Type
|
xs:float
|
|
releaseDate
|
Simple Type
|
xs:date
|
|
Starring
|
Complex type
|
|
|
starName
|
Simple Type
|
xs:string
|
|
studioCode
|
Simple Type
|
StudioCodeType
|
|
sn
|
Simple Type
|
xs:string
|
|
version
|
Simple Type
|
xs:int
|
|
lastUpdate
|
Simple Type
|
xs:date
|
|
StudioCodeType
|
Simple Type
|
|
This is a representation of the schema we are using. The schema consists of nested data. Some of the items are complex types, others are simple types. The complex types correspond roughly to rows in a table, or records in an ISAM file. The simple types correspond to columns in a table, or fields in an ISAM file.
So, you will create individual data source definitions for the complex types. In our example we will create one for the complex type “Studio”.
The simple types will usually contain a type= definition which will describe the data, as string, float, integer, or as a type in another schema element (as the StudioCodeType). Magic xpa will use these to create the default data types for each item in the data source.
How Do I Handle an XML Document with No Schema?
