Why xsi:type works only inwards, not outwards?

Hi all,

I'm trying to define two-level layered schema - one with generic "system"
model, second with specific "application" model.

When trying to expose application data using generic system model elements
specified by using xsi:type attribute referring to application model types,
I've encountered some asymetry in treating it while validating data.

My example is somehow simplified so as to reflect the issue from topic.

Let's start with system schema, sys.xsd:

<schema 
    targetNamespace="http://www.org.com/SYS" 
    xmlns:sys="http://www.org.com/SYS"
    xmlns:xsd="http://www.w3.org/2001/XMLSchema" 
    xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2001/XMLSchema"
    elementFormDefault="qualified">

    <element name="Entity" type="sys:EntityType"/>
    <complexType name="EntityType">
        <sequence minOccurs="0" maxOccurs="unbounded">
            <element ref="sys:category"/>
        </sequence>
    </complexType>

    <element name="category" type="sys:CategoryType"/>
    <simpleType name="CategoryType">
        <restriction base="string"/>
    </simpleType>
    
</schema>

Now I want to define specific rules for Room derived from Entity by
restriction in app.xsd:

<schema 
    targetNamespace="http://www.org.com/APP"
    xmlns:app="http://www.org.com/APP"
    xmlns:sys="http://www.org.com/SYS" 
    xmlns:xsd="http://www.w3.org/2001/XMLSchema" 
    xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2001/XMLSchema" 
    elementFormDefault="qualified">

    <import 
        namespace="http://www.org.com/SYS" 
        schemaLocation="sys.xsd"/>

    <element name="Room" type="app:RoomType" substitutionGroup="sys:Entity"
/>
    <complexType name="RoomType">
        <complexContent>
            <restriction base="sys:EntityType">
                <sequence>
                    <element ref="app:roomCategory"></element>
                </sequence>
            </restriction>
        </complexContent>
    </complexType>

    <element name="roomCategory" type="app:RoomCategoryType"
substitutionGroup="sys:category"/>
    <simpleType name="RoomCategoryType">
        <restriction base="sys:CategoryType">
            <enumeration value="living"></enumeration>
            <enumeration value="bedroom"></enumeration>
            <enumeration value="kitchen"></enumeration>
        </restriction>
    </simpleType>
    
</schema>

Now I can write data using application model:

<Room>
<!-- namespaces omitted for brevity -->
    <roomCategory>living</roomCategory>
</Room>

I could write the same data using plain system model, because Room is
derived from Entity by restriction:

<sys:Entity>
<!-- namespaces omitted for brevity -->
    <sys:category>living</sys:category>
</sys:Entity1>

The reason for flattening data to system model is to make it understandable
for some low-level processing, whatever it is (i.e. without exact knowledge
on application specifics).

But there are some drawbacks:
- validation can be made only against system schema, not application schema;
- information about actual application types has been stripped out, although
it could be of later use for some high-level processing, whatever it is
(i.e. using knowledge of aplication specifics).

My natural attempt was to use xsi:type attribute.

But it occured that I can write 

<sys:Entity xsi:type="RoomType">
<!-- namespaces omitted for brevity -->
    <roomCategory>living</roomCategory>
</sys:Entity1>

OR

<sys:Entity>
<!-- namespaces omitted for brevity -->
    <sys:category xsi:type=RoomCategoryType">living</sys:category>
</sys:Entity>

BUT USING xsi:type on both levels is illegal:

<sys:Entity xsi:type="RoomType">
<!-- namespaces omitted for brevity -->
    <sys:category xsi:type=RoomCategoryType">living</sys:category>
</sys:Entity1>

It seems that xsi:type "works" inwards, forcing inner content of element to
be validated along referred type. But in the same time, it does not work
outwards, i.e. inner element is not exposed as referred type - element name
is interpreted explicitly instead.

This is what I assume some drawback in how XML schema works, and causes my
concept for exposing data using layered schemas to be illegal.

I wonder if somebody could explain if there are some valid reasons for
hiding xsi:type attribute referred from inner elements to their parent
elements.



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Received on Thursday, 3 December 2009 18:30:11 UTC