RoleDescriptorType in Metadata schema

[Paul Madsen <p.madsen@entrust.com>]

In the Metadata schema, it is the RoleDescriptorType that is declared abstract rather than the RoleDescriptor element.

Consequently, XML Schema allows RoleDescriptor to occur in metadata instances in addition to other elements of a type derived from RoleDescriptorType,

So the following would be valid

<EntityDescriptor>

    <RoleDescriptor>

    </RoleDescriptor>

</EntityDescriptor>

as well as something like

<EntityDescriptor>

    <new:NewRoleDescriptor xsi:type="NewTypeDerivedFromRoleDescriptorType">

    </new:NewRoleDescriptor>

</EntityDescriptor>

Was it the intent to allow the first case? Was it to avoid a substitution group?

Paul

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Paul Madsen

e:  p.madsen@entrust.com

p:  613-270-2632

c:  613-799-2632

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