Exporting a Data Model to XML

From ER/Studio Data Architect
Jump to: navigation, search

Go Up to Exporting the Data Model

The eXtensible Markup Language (XML) is a document format that has recently emerged as a standard for data representation and exchange on the Internet. XML is also now supported by many applications and platforms, allowing the data modelers and application developers to collaborate on service-oriented architecture (SOA) initiatives. For example, the data modeler models the data and the relationships that describe how applications exchange data, and exports the model to XML, which the application developer can then use to ensure that the applications interface correctly.

ER/Studio Data Architect allows you to generate the following XML-type files:

  • XML Metadata Interchange (XMI): The XMI file format was designed primarily to allow the exchange of data between data modeling applications. Based on the XML format, XMI allows data modelers using Unified Modeling Language (UML) and programmers using different languages and development tools to exchange information about the model metadata, what a set of data consists of and how it is organized.

Using the MetaData Export Wizard, you can export the entire.dm1 file or an individual model to an.xsd or an.xmi file. This function makes assumptions about how the model elements map to the xsd elements but gives you some control over the export parameters. For more information, see Exporting Metadata for a Particular Model and Exporting Metadata for all Models and Submodels.

  • XML Schema Generation (XML): The XML Schema Generation Wizard creates schemas that can be based on a logical or physical model, a submodel, or even specific components only of a model or submodel. The XML Schema Generation Wizard allows you to customize the XML schema structure by clicking the desired options and dragging the available objects from the database design into a tree representing the XML schema. This wizard provides advanced options to transform relational entities and attributes into complex types, elements and attributes, define naming standards and datatype mapping, and incorporates the Quicklaunch system used in other wizards to save previous settings and streamline repetitive operations. For more information, see Generating a Customized XML Schema.

You can use XML editing applications such as Microsoft XML Notepad, Eclipse, Visual Studio, and Altova XML Spy to view and edit the schema.


See Also