Building XML Schemas

Article
09/15/2021

The classes in the System.Xml.Schema namespace map to the structures defined in the World Wide Web Consortium (W3C) XML Schema Recommendation and can be used to build XML schemas in-memory.

Building an XML Schema

In the code examples that follow, the SOM API is used to build a customer XML schema in-memory.

Creating Element and Attributes

The code examples build the customer schema from the bottom up, creating the child elements, attributes, and their corresponding types first, and then the top-level elements.

In the following code example, the FirstName and LastName elements, as well as the CustomerId attribute of the customer schema are created using the XmlSchemaElement and XmlSchemaAttribute classes of the SOM. Apart from the Name properties of the XmlSchemaElement and XmlSchemaAttribute classes, which correspond to the "name" attribute of the <xs:element /> and <xs:attribute /> elements in an XML schema, all other attributes allowed by the schema (defaultValue, fixedValue, form, and so on) have corresponding properties in the XmlSchemaElement and XmlSchemaAttribute classes.

// Create the FirstName and LastName elements.
XmlSchemaElement^ firstNameElement = gcnew XmlSchemaElement();
firstNameElement->Name = "FirstName";
XmlSchemaElement^ lastNameElement = gcnew XmlSchemaElement();
lastNameElement->Name = "LastName";

// Create CustomerId attribute.
XmlSchemaAttribute^ idAttribute = gcnew XmlSchemaAttribute();
idAttribute->Name = "CustomerId";
idAttribute->Use = XmlSchemaUse::Required;

// Create the FirstName and LastName elements.
XmlSchemaElement firstNameElement = new XmlSchemaElement();
firstNameElement.Name = "FirstName";
XmlSchemaElement lastNameElement = new XmlSchemaElement();
lastNameElement.Name = "LastName";

// Create CustomerId attribute.
XmlSchemaAttribute idAttribute = new XmlSchemaAttribute();
idAttribute.Name = "CustomerId";
idAttribute.Use = XmlSchemaUse.Required;

' Create the FirstName and LastName elements.
Dim firstNameElement As XmlSchemaElement = New XmlSchemaElement()
firstNameElement.Name = "FirstName"
Dim lastNameElement As XmlSchemaElement = New XmlSchemaElement()
lastNameElement.Name = "LastName"

' Create CustomerId attribute.
Dim idAttribute As XmlSchemaAttribute = New XmlSchemaAttribute()
idAttribute.Name = "CustomerId"
idAttribute.Use = XmlSchemaUse.Required

Creating Schema Types

The content of elements and attributes is defined by their types. To create elements and attributes whose types are one of the built-in schema types, the SchemaTypeName property of the XmlSchemaElement or XmlSchemaAttribute classes are set with the corresponding qualified name of the built-in type using the XmlQualifiedName class. To create a user-defined type for elements and attributes, a new simple or complex type is created using the XmlSchemaSimpleType or XmlSchemaComplexType class.

Note

To create unnamed simple or complex types that are anonymous children of an element or attribute (only simple types apply for attributes), set the SchemaType property of the XmlSchemaElement or XmlSchemaAttribute classes to the unnamed simple or complex type, instead of the SchemaTypeName property of the XmlSchemaElement or XmlSchemaAttribute classes.

XML schemas allow both anonymous and named simple types to be derived by restriction from other simple types (built-in or user-defined) or constructed as a list or union of other simple types. The XmlSchemaSimpleTypeRestriction class is used to create a simple type by restricting the built-in xs:string type. You can also use the XmlSchemaSimpleTypeList or XmlSchemaSimpleTypeUnion classes to create list or union types. The XmlSchemaSimpleType.Content property denotes whether it is a simple type restriction, list, or union.

In the following code example, the FirstName element's type is the built-in type xs:string, the LastName element's type is a named simple type that is a restriction of the built-in type xs:string, with a MaxLength facet value of 20, and the CustomerId attribute's type is the built-in type xs:positiveInteger. The Customer element is an anonymous complex type whose particle is the sequence of the FirstName and LastName elements and whose attributes contains the CustomerId attribute.

Note

You can also use the XmlSchemaChoice or XmlSchemaAll classes as the particle of the complex type to replicate <xs:choice /> or <xs:all /> semantics.

// Create the simple type for the LastName element.
XmlSchemaSimpleType^ lastNameType = gcnew XmlSchemaSimpleType();
lastNameType->Name = "LastNameType";
XmlSchemaSimpleTypeRestriction^ lastNameRestriction =
    gcnew XmlSchemaSimpleTypeRestriction();
lastNameRestriction->BaseTypeName =
    gcnew XmlQualifiedName("string", "http://www.w3.org/2001/XMLSchema");
XmlSchemaMaxLengthFacet^ maxLength = gcnew XmlSchemaMaxLengthFacet();
maxLength->Value = "20";
lastNameRestriction->Facets->Add(maxLength);
lastNameType->Content = lastNameRestriction;

// Associate the elements and attributes with their types.
// Built-in type.
firstNameElement->SchemaTypeName =
    gcnew XmlQualifiedName("string", "http://www.w3.org/2001/XMLSchema");
// User-defined type.
lastNameElement->SchemaTypeName =
    gcnew XmlQualifiedName("LastNameType", "http://www.tempuri.org");
// Built-in type.
idAttribute->SchemaTypeName = gcnew XmlQualifiedName("positiveInteger",
    "http://www.w3.org/2001/XMLSchema");

// Create the top-level Customer element.
XmlSchemaElement^ customerElement = gcnew XmlSchemaElement();
customerElement->Name = "Customer";

// Create an anonymous complex type for the Customer element.
XmlSchemaComplexType^ customerType = gcnew XmlSchemaComplexType();
XmlSchemaSequence^ sequence = gcnew XmlSchemaSequence();
sequence->Items->Add(firstNameElement);
sequence->Items->Add(lastNameElement);
customerType->Particle = sequence;

// Add the CustomerId attribute to the complex type.
customerType->Attributes->Add(idAttribute);

// Set the SchemaType of the Customer element to
// the anonymous complex type created above.
customerElement->SchemaType = customerType;

// Create the simple type for the LastName element.
XmlSchemaSimpleType lastNameType = new XmlSchemaSimpleType();
lastNameType.Name = "LastNameType";
XmlSchemaSimpleTypeRestriction lastNameRestriction =
    new XmlSchemaSimpleTypeRestriction();
lastNameRestriction.BaseTypeName =
    new XmlQualifiedName("string", "http://www.w3.org/2001/XMLSchema");
XmlSchemaMaxLengthFacet maxLength = new XmlSchemaMaxLengthFacet();
maxLength.Value = "20";
lastNameRestriction.Facets.Add(maxLength);
lastNameType.Content = lastNameRestriction;

// Associate the elements and attributes with their types.
// Built-in type.
firstNameElement.SchemaTypeName =
    new XmlQualifiedName("string", "http://www.w3.org/2001/XMLSchema");
// User-defined type.
lastNameElement.SchemaTypeName =
    new XmlQualifiedName("LastNameType", "http://www.tempuri.org");
// Built-in type.
idAttribute.SchemaTypeName = new XmlQualifiedName("positiveInteger",
    "http://www.w3.org/2001/XMLSchema");

// Create the top-level Customer element.
XmlSchemaElement customerElement = new XmlSchemaElement();
customerElement.Name = "Customer";

// Create an anonymous complex type for the Customer element.
XmlSchemaComplexType customerType = new XmlSchemaComplexType();
XmlSchemaSequence sequence = new XmlSchemaSequence();
sequence.Items.Add(firstNameElement);
sequence.Items.Add(lastNameElement);
customerType.Particle = sequence;

// Add the CustomerId attribute to the complex type.
customerType.Attributes.Add(idAttribute);

// Set the SchemaType of the Customer element to
// the anonymous complex type created above.
customerElement.SchemaType = customerType;

' Create the simple type for the LastName element.
Dim lastNameType As XmlSchemaSimpleType = New XmlSchemaSimpleType()
lastNameType.Name = "LastNameType"
Dim lastNameRestriction As XmlSchemaSimpleTypeRestriction = _
    New XmlSchemaSimpleTypeRestriction()
lastNameRestriction.BaseTypeName = _
    New XmlQualifiedName("string", "http://www.w3.org/2001/XMLSchema")
Dim maxLength As XmlSchemaMaxLengthFacet = New XmlSchemaMaxLengthFacet()
maxLength.Value = "20"
lastNameRestriction.Facets.Add(maxLength)
lastNameType.Content = lastNameRestriction

' Associate the elements and attributes with their types.
' Built-in type.
firstNameElement.SchemaTypeName = _
    New XmlQualifiedName("string", "http://www.w3.org/2001/XMLSchema")
' User-defined type.
lastNameElement.SchemaTypeName = _
    New XmlQualifiedName("LastNameType", "http://www.tempuri.org")
' Built-in type.
idAttribute.SchemaTypeName = New XmlQualifiedName("positiveInteger", _
    "http://www.w3.org/2001/XMLSchema")

' Create the top-level Customer element.
Dim customerElement As XmlSchemaElement = New XmlSchemaElement()
customerElement.Name = "Customer"

' Create an anonymous complex type for the Customer element.
Dim customerType As XmlSchemaComplexType = New XmlSchemaComplexType()
Dim sequence As XmlSchemaSequence = New XmlSchemaSequence()
sequence.Items.Add(firstNameElement)
sequence.Items.Add(lastNameElement)
customerType.Particle = sequence

' Add the CustomerId attribute to the complex type.
customerType.Attributes.Add(idAttribute)

' Set the SchemaType of the Customer element to
' the anonymous complex type created above.
customerElement.SchemaType = customerType

Creating and Compiling Schemas

At this point, the child elements and attributes, their corresponding types, and the top-level Customer element have been created in-memory using the SOM API. In the following code example, the schema element is created using the XmlSchema class, the top-level elements and types are added to it using the XmlSchema.Items property and the complete schema is compiled using the XmlSchemaSet class and written to the console.

// Create an empty schema.
XmlSchema^ customerSchema = gcnew XmlSchema();
customerSchema->TargetNamespace = "http://www.tempuri.org";

// Add all top-level element and types to the schema
customerSchema->Items->Add(customerElement);
customerSchema->Items->Add(lastNameType);

// Create an XmlSchemaSet to compile the customer schema.
XmlSchemaSet^ schemaSet = gcnew XmlSchemaSet();
schemaSet->ValidationEventHandler += gcnew ValidationEventHandler(ValidationCallback);
schemaSet->Add(customerSchema);
schemaSet->Compile();

for each (XmlSchema^ schema in schemaSet->Schemas())
{
    customerSchema = schema;
}

// Write the complete schema to the Console.
customerSchema->Write(Console::Out);

// Create an empty schema.
XmlSchema customerSchema = new XmlSchema();
customerSchema.TargetNamespace = "http://www.tempuri.org";

// Add all top-level element and types to the schema
customerSchema.Items.Add(customerElement);
customerSchema.Items.Add(lastNameType);

// Create an XmlSchemaSet to compile the customer schema.
XmlSchemaSet schemaSet = new XmlSchemaSet();
schemaSet.ValidationEventHandler += new ValidationEventHandler(ValidationCallback);
schemaSet.Add(customerSchema);
schemaSet.Compile();

foreach (XmlSchema schema in schemaSet.Schemas())
{
    customerSchema = schema;
}

// Write the complete schema to the Console.
customerSchema.Write(Console.Out);

' Create an empty schema.
Dim customerSchema As XmlSchema = New XmlSchema()
customerSchema.TargetNamespace = "http://www.tempuri.org"

' Add all top-level element and types to the schema
customerSchema.Items.Add(customerElement)
customerSchema.Items.Add(lastNameType)

' Create an XmlSchemaSet to compile the customer schema.
Dim schemaSet As XmlSchemaSet = New XmlSchemaSet()
AddHandler schemaSet.ValidationEventHandler, AddressOf ValidationCallback
schemaSet.Add(customerSchema)
schemaSet.Compile()

For Each schema As XmlSchema In schemaSet.Schemas()
    customerSchema = schema
Next

' Write the complete schema to the Console.
customerSchema.Write(Console.Out)

The XmlSchemaSet.Compile method validates the customer schema against the rules for an XML schema and makes post-schema-compilation properties available.

Note

All post-schema-compilation properties in the SOM API differ from the Post-Schema-Validation-Infoset.

The ValidationEventHandler added to the XmlSchemaSet is a delegate that calls the callback method ValidationCallback to handle schema validation warnings and errors.

The following is the complete code example, and the customer schema written to the console.

#using <System.Xml.dll>

using namespace System;
using namespace System::Xml;
using namespace System::Xml::Schema;

ref class XmlSchemaCreateExample
{
public:

    static void Main()
    {
        // Create the FirstName and LastName elements.
        XmlSchemaElement^ firstNameElement = gcnew XmlSchemaElement();
        firstNameElement->Name = "FirstName";
        XmlSchemaElement^ lastNameElement = gcnew XmlSchemaElement();
        lastNameElement->Name = "LastName";

        // Create CustomerId attribute.
        XmlSchemaAttribute^ idAttribute = gcnew XmlSchemaAttribute();
        idAttribute->Name = "CustomerId";
        idAttribute->Use = XmlSchemaUse::Required;

        // Create the simple type for the LastName element.
        XmlSchemaSimpleType^ lastNameType = gcnew XmlSchemaSimpleType();
        lastNameType->Name = "LastNameType";
        XmlSchemaSimpleTypeRestriction^ lastNameRestriction =
            gcnew XmlSchemaSimpleTypeRestriction();
        lastNameRestriction->BaseTypeName =
            gcnew XmlQualifiedName("string", "http://www.w3.org/2001/XMLSchema");
        XmlSchemaMaxLengthFacet^ maxLength = gcnew XmlSchemaMaxLengthFacet();
        maxLength->Value = "20";
        lastNameRestriction->Facets->Add(maxLength);
        lastNameType->Content = lastNameRestriction;

        // Associate the elements and attributes with their types.
        // Built-in type.
        firstNameElement->SchemaTypeName =
            gcnew XmlQualifiedName("string", "http://www.w3.org/2001/XMLSchema");
        // User-defined type.
        lastNameElement->SchemaTypeName =
            gcnew XmlQualifiedName("LastNameType", "http://www.tempuri.org");
        // Built-in type.
        idAttribute->SchemaTypeName = gcnew XmlQualifiedName("positiveInteger",
            "http://www.w3.org/2001/XMLSchema");
        
        // Create the top-level Customer element.
        XmlSchemaElement^ customerElement = gcnew XmlSchemaElement();
        customerElement->Name = "Customer";

        // Create an anonymous complex type for the Customer element.
        XmlSchemaComplexType^ customerType = gcnew XmlSchemaComplexType();
        XmlSchemaSequence^ sequence = gcnew XmlSchemaSequence();
        sequence->Items->Add(firstNameElement);
        sequence->Items->Add(lastNameElement);
        customerType->Particle = sequence;
        
        // Add the CustomerId attribute to the complex type.
        customerType->Attributes->Add(idAttribute);

        // Set the SchemaType of the Customer element to
        // the anonymous complex type created above.
        customerElement->SchemaType = customerType;
        
        // Create an empty schema.
        XmlSchema^ customerSchema = gcnew XmlSchema();
        customerSchema->TargetNamespace = "http://www.tempuri.org";

        // Add all top-level element and types to the schema
        customerSchema->Items->Add(customerElement);
        customerSchema->Items->Add(lastNameType);

        // Create an XmlSchemaSet to compile the customer schema.
        XmlSchemaSet^ schemaSet = gcnew XmlSchemaSet();
        schemaSet->ValidationEventHandler += gcnew ValidationEventHandler(ValidationCallback);
        schemaSet->Add(customerSchema);
        schemaSet->Compile();
        
        for each (XmlSchema^ schema in schemaSet->Schemas())
        {
            customerSchema = schema;
        }

        // Write the complete schema to the Console.
        customerSchema->Write(Console::Out);
    }

    static void ValidationCallback(Object^ sender, ValidationEventArgs^ args)
    {
        if (args->Severity == XmlSeverityType::Warning)
            Console::Write("WARNING: ");
        else if (args->Severity == XmlSeverityType::Error)
            Console::Write("ERROR: ");

        Console::WriteLine(args->Message);
    }
};

int main()
{
    XmlSchemaCreateExample::Main();
    return 0;
}

using System;
using System.Xml;
using System.Xml.Schema;

class XmlSchemaCreateExample
{
    static void Main(string[] args)
    {
        // Create the FirstName and LastName elements.
        XmlSchemaElement firstNameElement = new XmlSchemaElement();
        firstNameElement.Name = "FirstName";
        XmlSchemaElement lastNameElement = new XmlSchemaElement();
        lastNameElement.Name = "LastName";

        // Create CustomerId attribute.
        XmlSchemaAttribute idAttribute = new XmlSchemaAttribute();
        idAttribute.Name = "CustomerId";
        idAttribute.Use = XmlSchemaUse.Required;

        // Create the simple type for the LastName element.
        XmlSchemaSimpleType lastNameType = new XmlSchemaSimpleType();
        lastNameType.Name = "LastNameType";
        XmlSchemaSimpleTypeRestriction lastNameRestriction =
            new XmlSchemaSimpleTypeRestriction();
        lastNameRestriction.BaseTypeName =
            new XmlQualifiedName("string", "http://www.w3.org/2001/XMLSchema");
        XmlSchemaMaxLengthFacet maxLength = new XmlSchemaMaxLengthFacet();
        maxLength.Value = "20";
        lastNameRestriction.Facets.Add(maxLength);
        lastNameType.Content = lastNameRestriction;

        // Associate the elements and attributes with their types.
        // Built-in type.
        firstNameElement.SchemaTypeName =
            new XmlQualifiedName("string", "http://www.w3.org/2001/XMLSchema");
        // User-defined type.
        lastNameElement.SchemaTypeName =
            new XmlQualifiedName("LastNameType", "http://www.tempuri.org");
        // Built-in type.
        idAttribute.SchemaTypeName = new XmlQualifiedName("positiveInteger",
            "http://www.w3.org/2001/XMLSchema");

        // Create the top-level Customer element.
        XmlSchemaElement customerElement = new XmlSchemaElement();
        customerElement.Name = "Customer";

        // Create an anonymous complex type for the Customer element.
        XmlSchemaComplexType customerType = new XmlSchemaComplexType();
        XmlSchemaSequence sequence = new XmlSchemaSequence();
        sequence.Items.Add(firstNameElement);
        sequence.Items.Add(lastNameElement);
        customerType.Particle = sequence;

        // Add the CustomerId attribute to the complex type.
        customerType.Attributes.Add(idAttribute);

        // Set the SchemaType of the Customer element to
        // the anonymous complex type created above.
        customerElement.SchemaType = customerType;

        // Create an empty schema.
        XmlSchema customerSchema = new XmlSchema();
        customerSchema.TargetNamespace = "http://www.tempuri.org";

        // Add all top-level element and types to the schema
        customerSchema.Items.Add(customerElement);
        customerSchema.Items.Add(lastNameType);

        // Create an XmlSchemaSet to compile the customer schema.
        XmlSchemaSet schemaSet = new XmlSchemaSet();
        schemaSet.ValidationEventHandler += new ValidationEventHandler(ValidationCallback);
        schemaSet.Add(customerSchema);
        schemaSet.Compile();

        foreach (XmlSchema schema in schemaSet.Schemas())
        {
            customerSchema = schema;
        }

        // Write the complete schema to the Console.
        customerSchema.Write(Console.Out);
    }

    static void ValidationCallback(object sender, ValidationEventArgs args)
    {
        if (args.Severity == XmlSeverityType.Warning)
            Console.Write("WARNING: ");
        else if (args.Severity == XmlSeverityType.Error)
            Console.Write("ERROR: ");

        Console.WriteLine(args.Message);
    }
}

Imports System.Xml
Imports System.Xml.Schema

Class XmlSchemaCreateExample

    Shared Sub Main()

        ' Create the FirstName and LastName elements.
        Dim firstNameElement As XmlSchemaElement = New XmlSchemaElement()
        firstNameElement.Name = "FirstName"
        Dim lastNameElement As XmlSchemaElement = New XmlSchemaElement()
        lastNameElement.Name = "LastName"

        ' Create CustomerId attribute.
        Dim idAttribute As XmlSchemaAttribute = New XmlSchemaAttribute()
        idAttribute.Name = "CustomerId"
        idAttribute.Use = XmlSchemaUse.Required

        ' Create the simple type for the LastName element.
        Dim lastNameType As XmlSchemaSimpleType = New XmlSchemaSimpleType()
        lastNameType.Name = "LastNameType"
        Dim lastNameRestriction As XmlSchemaSimpleTypeRestriction = _
            New XmlSchemaSimpleTypeRestriction()
        lastNameRestriction.BaseTypeName = _
            New XmlQualifiedName("string", "http://www.w3.org/2001/XMLSchema")
        Dim maxLength As XmlSchemaMaxLengthFacet = New XmlSchemaMaxLengthFacet()
        maxLength.Value = "20"
        lastNameRestriction.Facets.Add(maxLength)
        lastNameType.Content = lastNameRestriction

        ' Associate the elements and attributes with their types.
        ' Built-in type.
        firstNameElement.SchemaTypeName = _
            New XmlQualifiedName("string", "http://www.w3.org/2001/XMLSchema")
        ' User-defined type.
        lastNameElement.SchemaTypeName = _
            New XmlQualifiedName("LastNameType", "http://www.tempuri.org")
        ' Built-in type.
        idAttribute.SchemaTypeName = New XmlQualifiedName("positiveInteger", _
            "http://www.w3.org/2001/XMLSchema")

        ' Create the top-level Customer element.
        Dim customerElement As XmlSchemaElement = New XmlSchemaElement()
        customerElement.Name = "Customer"

        ' Create an anonymous complex type for the Customer element.
        Dim customerType As XmlSchemaComplexType = New XmlSchemaComplexType()
        Dim sequence As XmlSchemaSequence = New XmlSchemaSequence()
        sequence.Items.Add(firstNameElement)
        sequence.Items.Add(lastNameElement)
        customerType.Particle = sequence

        ' Add the CustomerId attribute to the complex type.
        customerType.Attributes.Add(idAttribute)

        ' Set the SchemaType of the Customer element to
        ' the anonymous complex type created above.
        customerElement.SchemaType = customerType

        ' Create an empty schema.
        Dim customerSchema As XmlSchema = New XmlSchema()
        customerSchema.TargetNamespace = "http://www.tempuri.org"

        ' Add all top-level element and types to the schema
        customerSchema.Items.Add(customerElement)
        customerSchema.Items.Add(lastNameType)

        ' Create an XmlSchemaSet to compile the customer schema.
        Dim schemaSet As XmlSchemaSet = New XmlSchemaSet()
        AddHandler schemaSet.ValidationEventHandler, AddressOf ValidationCallback
        schemaSet.Add(customerSchema)
        schemaSet.Compile()

        For Each schema As XmlSchema In schemaSet.Schemas()
            customerSchema = schema
        Next

        ' Write the complete schema to the Console.
        customerSchema.Write(Console.Out)
    End Sub

    Shared Sub ValidationCallback(ByVal sender As Object, ByVal args As ValidationEventArgs)
        If args.Severity = XmlSeverityType.Warning Then
            Console.Write("WARNING: ")
        Else
            If args.Severity = XmlSeverityType.Error Then
                Console.Write("ERROR: ")
            End If
        End If
        Console.WriteLine(args.Message)
    End Sub
End Class

<?xml version="1.0" encoding="utf-8"?>  
<xs:schema xmlns:tns="http://www.tempuri.org" targetNamespace="http://www.tempuri.org" xmlns:xs="http://www.w3.org/2001/XMLSchema">  
   <xs:element name="Customer">  
      <xs:complexType>  
         <xs:sequence>  
            <xs:element name="FirstName" type="xs:string" />  
            <xs:element name="LastName" type="tns:LastNameType" />  
         </xs:sequence>  
         <xs:attribute name="CustomerId" type="xs:positiveInteger" use="required" />  
      </xs:complexType>  
   </xs:element>  
   <xs:simpleType name="LastNameType">  
      <xs:restriction base="xs:string">  
         <xs:maxLength value="20" />  
      </xs:restriction>  
   </xs:simpleType>  
</xs:schema>

Share via

Building XML Schemas

Building an XML Schema

Creating Element and Attributes

Creating Schema Types

Creating and Compiling Schemas

See also

Additional resources