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Is it valid in XSD to have choice where all particles are optional

• From: Jirka Kosek <jirka@kosek.cz>
• To: XML Dev <xml-dev@lists.xml.org>
• Date: Thu, 15 Dec 2011 15:56:15 +0100

Hi,

I have came across interesting problem in XSD. Assume the following
snippet of XML schema:

<xs:complexType name="foo">
  <xs:sequence>
    ...
    <xs:choice>
      <xs:element name="a" minOccurs="0"/>
      <xs:element name="b" minOccurs="0"/>
    </xs:choice>
    ...
  </xs:sequence>
</xs:complexType>

I have tried several validator and none of them reports error witch such
schema. However in section "3.8.4 Model Group Validation Rules" in XML
Schema Part 1 there is written:

"Nothing in the above should be understood as ruling out groups whose
{particles} is empty: *although no sequence can be ·valid· with respect
to such a group whose {compositor} is choice*, the empty sequence is
·valid· with respect to empty groups whose {compositor} is sequence or all."

Should this be understood as that above fragment of XSD is incorrect?

(Of course, it is better to write this as
    <xs:choice minOccurs="0">
      <xs:element name="a"/>
      <xs:element name="b"/>
    </xs:choice>
but lets focus on the original version).

Opinions from XML Schema experts welcomed.

Thanks,

				Jirka

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  • Re: Is it valid in XSD to have choice where all particlesare optional
    • From: Michael Kay <mike@saxonica.com>