XML Schema: The complete course

Abstract

This course presents the features of W3C XML Schema from a technical perspective. It provides attendees with a solid understanding of the components of XML schemas, and how to combine them to describe the structure of XML documents. Emphasis will be on the core features: element and attribute declarations, simple and complex types, assembling schema documents and namespaces. Advanced features of XML Schema are also covered. Hands-on exercises are provided for each topic to reinforce the material presented.

Duration

3-4 days

Schedule

To schedule a class, please contact us at pwalmsley@datypic.com.

Topics covered

  1. Schemas: An overview
    • The purpose of schemas
    • Schema languages
    • Schema design
    • A simple schema example
    • Schema components
  2. Namespaces and schemas
    • The relationship between namespaces and schemas
    • Target namespaces
    • Namespace declarations in schema documents
  3. Relating instances to schemas
    • The relationship between instances and schemas
    • Schema location attributes
    • Other methods of specifying schemas
  4. Element and attribute declarations
    • Global vs. local declarations
    • Declaring types
    • Occurrence constraints
    • Qualified vs. unqualified forms
    • Default and fixed values
  5. Simple types
    • Simple type categories
    • Restricting simple types
    • Facets
    • Whitespace processing
    • Built-In simple types
    • Union types
    • List types
  6. Complex types
    • What are complex types?
    • Defining complex types
    • Creating content models
    • Using attributes
  7. Schema assembly
    • Schema documents and schemas
    • Includes
    • Imports
    • Redefines
    • Rules for schema assembly
  8. Deriving complex types
    • Why derive types?
    • Complex type extensions
    • Complex type restrictions
  9. Reusable groups
    • Why reusable groups?
    • Named model groups
    • Attribute groups
    • Reusable groups vs. complex type derivations
  10. Substitution groups
    • Why substitution groups?
    • The substitution group hierarchy
    • Declaring a substitution group
  11. Identity constraints
    • Uniqueness constraints
    • Key constraints
    • Key references