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Re: XML Schemas: Best Practices

• From: "Roger L. Costello" <costello@m...>
• To: xml-dev@l..., "Ripley,Michael W." <rip@m...>
• Date: Wed, 11 Oct 2000 06:42:41 -0400

[Here's a response that I received directly.  Any comments on it?]

>"When should an item be declared as an element versus when should an
>item be declared as a type?"

I think it's a matter of style.  As you showed in your examples, you 
can basically get done what needs to get done with either method.

My take on the style would be:

- use an element when all components of the element declaration will be
reused and semantically the reuse will mean the same thing (Elevation,
BostonElevation, FrankfurtElevation, SidneyElevation, etc.)

- use a type when the type definition will be reused for semantically
different elements (e.g., a 'money' type definition that is reused for
elements UnitPrice, Subtotal, ShippingAndHandling, Total, etc.).

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