New DITA design pattern for XML Schema - P13094

[Eric Sirois <esirois@ca.ibm.com>]

Hi,

I've included the working implementation
of a new design pattern.  The root schema document for each specialization
is called specialization.xsd.  

The main premise for the new design
is based on a statement in the XSD 1.0 specification that each schema document
 must be valid, which is correct.  There's also a statement that
says that if a component is not defined in the schema document look for
the component in included/imported schema documents.  That said, the
statement about schema documents must be valid is no longer in the XSD
1.1 specification.  Since each document is a valid atomic entity,
it *should* make it easier to create a Java representation of CRTT types.

The design pattern groups XML Schema
component definitions together for each topic type, core, and  base:

• attributes
• attributeGroups
• complexTypes
• elementGroups
• simpleTypes
• simpleElements

Using the new design pattern, one would
have to create 7 for a topic type or domain.  Some files maybe empty
of components, but may include or import other schema documents.

For the end users and those consuming
the XSD, theirs no difference.  They still point their DITA docs to
the main root XSD document.  For those who have created specialization
based on the current schemas or tools based on the current schema document
structure.

The work was done by Jean-Jacques Thomasson.
 He has also re-factored the S1000D in a similar manner to increase
the componentization of their XSDs as well.   For those who have an
interest in the XSD technology, please feel free to ask questions.  If
and when it makes sense, I can setup a meeting with interested parties
with Jean Jacques once folks have had time to delve into the details of
the designs.

Kind regards,
Eric

---

Eric A. Sirois
Staff Software Developer 
DB2 Universal Database - Information Development
DITA XML Schema Architect and DITA Open Toolkit Developer
IBM Canada Ltd. - Toronto Software Lab
Email: esirois@ca.ibm.com
Phone:(905) 413-2841
Blue
Pages (Internal)

"Transparency and accessibility requirements dictate that public information
and government 
transactions avoid depending on technologies that imply or impose a specific
product or 
platform on businesses or citizens" - EU on XML-based office document
formats.

Attachment: P13094-UpdatedXSDDesign.zip
Description: Zip archive