Generating an XSM from a PDM Via the XML Builder Wizard

The XML Builder Wizard helps you build an XML model (XSM) that will be used to generate SQL/XML queries for retrieving data from databases. It is more powerful than the standard PDM-XSM generation, as it helps you to customize the XML hierarchy to be built, and sets up the XSM to retrieve data from relational databases supporting SQL/XML, and for generation of an annotated schema.

1. In your PDM, select Tools > XML Builder Wizard to open the XML Builder Wizard to the Model Selection page:
   
   
   

   Select whether you want to create a new XML model or update an existing XML model currently open in your workspace.

2. Click Next to go to the Tables and Views Selection tab:
   
   
   

   Select the tables and views you want to generate. By default, all tables and views are selected.

3. Click Next to go to the XML Hierarchy Design tab:
   
   
   

   On this tab, you construct the XML hierarchy that you want to generate:

   • The left-hand pane lists the tables and views that you have selected

   • The right-hand pane displays the XML hierarchy to be generated, containing a default root element.

   The following tools are available to help you build your hierarchy:

   Tool	Description
   	Properties – Opens the property sheet for the selected table, view, or column.
   	Add Object - Adds the selected PDM object to the XML hierarchy.
   	Create Default Hierarchy for Selected Objects - Adds the selected PDM objects to the XML hierarchy.

4. You can build your XML hierarchy using the following techniques:

   • Specify whether columns will be generated as elements or attributes by using the radio buttons above the panes.

   • Drag and drop a table, view, or column onto a node in the XML hierarchy. You must respect the PDM hierarchy; you cannot create an XML hierarchy between two elements if there is no reference between their corresponding tables, and a parent table cannot be placed beneath one of its children.

   • Right-click a table, view, or column and select Add to add it to the last selected node in the XML hierarchy.

   • Rename an element or attribute by clicking its node and typing a new name.

   • Create new elements and attributes not in the PDM, and Sequence, Choice and All group particles, by right-clicking an XML node and selecting New > object.

   • Delete an XML node by right-clicking it and selecting Delete.

5. Click Finish to generate the XSM.
   
   
   

   In the case of an update to an existing XSM, your hierarchy will be created as a new root in the model.

   The SQL/XML extension file is automatically attached to the XML model to enable you to generate SQL/XML queries from global elements. For more information, seeXML Modeling > Working with XML and Databases.