XML Schema Q: Element with either simpleContent or complexContent

[David Norman]

How can I create an xml schema where both of the following documents
are valid?

<theElement>
<child>some text</child>
</theElement>

and

<theElement>1234</theElement>

Basically, <theElement> should either contain a single element <child>
of a specified type or an integer.

Thanks,
David

 

[Martin Honnen]

How can I create an xml schema where both of the following documents
are valid?

<theElement>
<child>some text</child>
</theElement>

and

<theElement>1234</theElement>

Basically, <theElement> should either contain a single element <child>
of a specified type or an integer.

If you use

<?xml version="1.0" encoding="UTF-8"?>
<xs:schema xmlns:xs="http://www.w3.org/2001/XMLSchema"
version="1.0">

<xs:element name="root">
<xs:complexType>
<xs:sequence>
<xs:element ref="theElement" maxOccurs="unbounded" />
</xs:sequence>
</xs:complexType>
</xs:element>

<xs:element name="theElement">
<xs:complexType mixed="true">
<xs:sequence>
<xs:element name="child" type="xs:string" minOccurs="0" />
</xs:sequence>
</xs:complexType>
</xs:element>

</xs:schema>

that is you specify the element to have a complex type where mixed
content is allowed then the following validates:

<?xml version="1.0" encoding="UTF-8"?>
<root
xmlns:xsi="http://www.w3.org/2001/XMLSchema-instance"
xsi:noNamespaceSchemaLocation="test2004073101Xsd.xml">
<theElement>
<child>some text</child>
</theElement>
<theElement>1234</theElement>
</root>

However the schema also allows a <theElement> as follows
<theElement>1234<child>Kibology</child>1234</theElement>

If you want to allow either the simple content of type integer or a
complex content of exactly one child element you would need to have a
union of both types however I think a union is only possible for simple
types.

 

[David Norman]

If you use

<?xml version="1.0" encoding="UTF-8"?>
<xs:schema xmlns:xs="http://www.w3.org/2001/XMLSchema"
version="1.0">

<xs:element name="root">
<xs:complexType>
<xs:sequence>
<xs:element ref="theElement" maxOccurs="unbounded" />
</xs:sequence>
</xs:complexType>
</xs:element>

<xs:element name="theElement">
<xs:complexType mixed="true">
<xs:sequence>
<xs:element name="child" type="xs:string" minOccurs="0" />
</xs:sequence>
</xs:complexType>
</xs:element>

</xs:schema>

that is you specify the element to have a complex type where mixed
content is allowed then the following validates:

<?xml version="1.0" encoding="UTF-8"?>
<root
xmlns:xsi="http://www.w3.org/2001/XMLSchema-instance"
xsi:noNamespaceSchemaLocation="test2004073101Xsd.xml">
<theElement>
<child>some text</child>
</theElement>
<theElement>1234</theElement>
</root>

However the schema also allows a <theElement> as follows
<theElement>1234<child>Kibology</child>1234</theElement>

If you want to allow either the simple content of type integer or a
complex content of exactly one child element you would need to have a
union of both types however I think a union is only possible for simple
types.

Because of the last possibility, mixed="true" doesn't give me what I want.

Thanks,
David

 

[Peter Flynn]

How can I create an xml schema where both of the following documents
are valid?

<theElement>
<child>some text</child>
</theElement>

and

<theElement>1234</theElement>

Basically, <theElement> should either contain a single element <child>
of a specified type or an integer.

This sounds to me like extremely poor data design.

///Peter