Schemas
An XML schema is an XML document that specifies the structure of a valid XML document. Comparable to a document template, an XML schema ensures that every item is in the correct form.
You cannot combine an XML schema with an XML document that the schema governs, since the schema is used by several documents and stored separately for validation purposes.
An XML schema consists of the following components:
| Component Name | Definition |
|---|---|
| XML declaration | Defines the XML version that the schema uses |
| Schema element | Identifies the document as an XML schema. Schemas are used to validate translation data in the Map Editor, provide web service structural information to web service clients, and define Reporting Services components such as fact models and reports. |
| Element declaration | Defines the element. An element is a section of an XML document. An element can contain attributes, which are characteristics of an element. |
| Attribute declaration | Defines the attribute. |
When you submit an XML document to the system, the XML document is compared to the XML Schema to ensure that the document is in the appropriate format and is valid.