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[XML-DEV Mailing List Archive Home] [By Thread] [By Date] [Recent Entries] [Reply To This Message] Representing interdependence of elements within a schema or dtd
 Hi Everyone, I am new to this list so if I am in the wrong place please point me elsewhere. I have a question relating to dependencies between parts of an xml document. So far in the XML books that I have read there is no reference to this problem that I can find. I am constructing and transmitting an XML document that gradually gathers more elements as it travels about. The elements that it gathers are contributions to the document from different predefined sources - i.e. there is a pre-established structure to the document, but initially the structure is just a framework that gets filled in as the document moves from person to person. My problem is that the elements are interdependent - some elements cannot be present if others are absent, and vice versa. For example, suppose the basic structure was: <doc> <part1> <body>....</body> <part1_annex>....</part1_annex> </part1> <part2> <body>....</body> <part2_annex1>....</part2_annex1> <part2_annex2>....</part2_annex2> </part2> <binder>....</binder> <doc> Initially both <part1> and <part2> are optional. The <_annex>es of <part1> and <part2> cannot be present without the corresponding <body>s. And the <binder> element can only be present if both <part1> or <part2> are present and complete. The only way I can find of representing this arrangement in a schema or dtd is to have a different schema or dtd at each state of the document. In the first "Incomplete" state, <part1/part2> are both optional, and within each the <body> is mandatory and the <_annex>es are optional. The <binder> part is absent altogether. Once I have <part1> and <part2> completed, i.e. all bodies and annexes present, the document moves to the "ready to bind" state, in which all the <part1/part2> <body>s and <_annex>es become mandatory and the <binder> part appears as an optional element. Finally, when the <binder> element is added the whole document is complete and moves to the "Bound" state in which all elements are mandatory. Using a separate schema for each of the three states turns out to be a very clumsy way of handling things. In the example above it is just about manageable but where there are many levels and elements/sub elements it is almost impossible to represent. How can I easily define the interdependence between all these parts within a single schema or dtd, so that the document can move through different states, each state having different rules about the presence or absence of the different parts? John 
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