Defining complexTypes in XML Schemas

In the Diagram view, when you define a complexType as a top-level definition, it is a global declaration. You can specify that any element in the schema is of this complexType. Similarly, in the Tree view, it is a global declaration when you define a complexType as a child of the Schema node.

Stylus Studio takes care of most of the details for you. But as you define a complexType, it is helpful to keep in mind that a complexType node can have only one child node that is a model group modifier. However, this modifier node can have any number of child nodes that are modifiers. In this way, you can specify any number of modifiers in a complexType. Each modifier controls the occurrence of its child nodes. You can specify the same modifier more than once. For example, you might want to specify the sequence modifier, with some child nodes, then the choice modifier with some child nodes, and then the sequence modifier again with other child nodes.

This section discusses the following topics: