Office 2003 XML

Appendix C. The XSD You Need for Office

The purpose of this appendix is to introduce you to XML Schema Definitions (XSD). Microsoft uses XSD, or subsets of XSD, throughout the Office suite. While XSD is a subject worthy of a book or several of its own, and many people prefer to work with it only through tools, there is a core set of XSD features that will let you describe and define XML vocabularies as well as understand how Office interprets XML information.

What Is XSD?

XML Schema Description (XSD), sometimes referred to as W3C XML Schema (WXS), is an XML vocabulary that lets you describe other XML vocabularies so that programs can test whether a given document meets rules laid down in the schema. XSD is defined by a set of three W3C Recommendations:

XML Schema Part 0: Primer

A tutorial for XML Schema, explaining Parts 1 and 2 in simpler terms with more examples and integration. Available at http://www.w3.org/TR/xmlschema-0/.

XML Schema Part 1: Structures

An XML vocabulary for describing the structures of XML vocabularies, based on a mixture of markup and object-oriented design. Available at http://www.w3.org/TR/xmlschema-1/.

XML Schema Part 2: Datatypes

A set of extensible types for describing the contents of XML elements and attributes, including things like integers, decimals, and dates. Available at http://www.w3.org/TR/xmlschema-2/.

The mechanisms for defining structures and datatypes allow schema designers to create type systems that may be extended or restricted. This brief ...