Chapter 3 Building XML Models

Complex Types (XSM)

You can only create complex types in a model targeted with XSD.

A complex type is a data type definition used to define attributes and child elements of a parent element. It is a template for a data type definition that can be reused and derived by extension or restriction.

A complex type has:

a global scope when it has no parent element in the diagram and when it is directly linked to the <schema> tag. It can then be reused or derived, by extension or restriction, in other parts of the schema.
a local scope when integrated into an <element> tag. It applies only to its containing element.

In the example above, HighDefinition is a global complex type, reused as data type for the deluxeTV element.

Generated schema:

WARNING!

Caution
Global complex types appear in the model as objects, with their corresponding symbol in the diagram.
Local complex types only appear in the schema (see Preview tab of an element property sheet).