xsd xs:complexType
Introduction
A xs:complexType provides a description of an XML element's content in the instance document. The definition of the xs:complexType can be made globally in which case it has a name and can be re-used within the schema, or it can be inplace and only used within the context it is declared.
Parameters
| Attributes | Description |
|---|---|
| abstract | When set to true the complex type can not be used directly in an instance XML document via xsi:type. It can however be used as the base type for an element definition. (default false) - Only valid for root level xs:complexType's |
| block | Limits the types that can be used in an XML instance document (defaults to the value of the xs:schemas blockDefault attribute if set, otherwise defaults to empty, values '#all' | a list of ('extension', 'list', 'union') separated by whitespace). |
| final | Limits deriving types from using this type in certain ways within the schema (defaults to the value of the xs:schemas finalDefault attribute if set, otherwise defaults to empty, values '#all' | or a list of ('extension', 'list', 'union') separated by whitespace) - Only valid for root level xs:complexType's |
| id | The id of the schema item (optional) |
| mixed | Indicates the instance XML element may contain mixed content (defaults to false) |
| name | The name of the xs:complexType - Only valid for root level xs:complexType's |
| any | Any other attributes not in the 'http://www.w3.org/2001/XMLSchema' namespace are allowed. |
| ----------------- | ------ |
| Elements | Description |
| ----------------- | ------ |
| xs:annotation | Provides the ability to add documentation and machine readable data. |
| xs:simpleContent | Used when the xs:complexType derives from a xs:simpleType. |
| xs:complexContent | Used when the xs:complexType derives from another xs:complexType. |
| xs:group | Adds the elements from an xs:group to the xs:complexType definition |
| xs:all | Adds the elements from an xs:all to the xs:complexType definition |
| xs:choice | Adds the elements from an xs:choice to the xs:complexType definition |
| xs:sequence | Adds the elements from an xs:sequence to the xs:complexType definition |
| xs:attribute | Adds the xs:attribute to the xs:complexType definition |
| xs:attributeGroup | Adds the xs:attributeGroup to the xs:complexType definition |
| xs:anyAttribute | Adds the xs:anyAttribute to the xs:complexType definition |
Remarks
Deriving from a xs:complexType
When a xs:complexType derives from another xs:complexType is can do it via extension or restriction.
- extension - the deriving type takes everything defined in the base type and adds to it.
- restriction - the deriving type takes only selected parts from the base type, only allowing the parts it wants, no additional items can be added.
Deriving from a xs:simpleType
When a xs:complexType derives from a xs:simpleType is can do it via extension, in which case it can add attributes to the resulting type, but not elements.
Content Type
Conceptually a xs:complexType either contains simple or complex content. If the xs:complexType derives from a typed based on xs:anySimpleType (xs:int, xs:string etc) then it is simple. If it derives from a xs:complexType which contains complex content, then it itself is complex (if the xs:complexType does not derive from a type, then it is also complex).
