< Complete XML Schema Reference
Definition and Usage
The group element is used to define a group of elements to be used in complex type definitions.
Element Information
- Parent elements: schema, choice, sequence, complexType, restriction (both simpleContent and complexContent), extension (both simpleContent and complexContent)
Syntax
<group
id=ID
name=NCName
ref=QName
maxOccurs=nonNegativeInteger|unbounded
minOccurs=nonNegativeInteger
any attributes
>
(annotation?,(all|choice|sequence)?)
</group>
(The ? sign declares that the element can occur zero or one time inside the group element)
| Attribute | Description |
|---|---|
| id | Optional. Specifies a unique ID for the element |
| name | Optional. Specifies a name for the group. This attribute is used only when the schema element is the parent of this group element. Name and ref attributes cannot both be present |
| ref | Optional. Refers to the name of another group. Name and ref attributes cannot both be present |
| maxOccurs | Optional. Specifies the maximum number of times the group element can occur in the parent element. The value can be any number >= 0, or if you want to set no limit on the maximum number, use the value "unbounded". Default value is 1 |
| minOccurs | Optional. Specifies the minimum number of times the group element can occur in the parent element. The value can be any number >= 0. Default value is 1 |
| any attributes | Optional. Specifies any other attributes with non-schema namespace |
Example 1
The following example defines a group containing a sequence of four elements and uses the group element in a complex type definition:
<?xml version="1.0"?>
<xs:schema xmlns:xs="http://www.w3.org/2001/XMLSchema">
<xs:group name="custGroup">
<xs:sequence>
<xs:element name="customer" type="xs:string"/>
<xs:element name="orderdetails" type="xs:string"/>
<xs:element name="billto" type="xs:string"/>
<xs:element name="shipto" type="xs:string"/>
</xs:sequence>
</xs:group>
<xs:element name="order" type="ordertype"/>
<xs:complexType name="ordertype">
<xs:group ref="custGroup"/>
<xs:attribute name="status" type="xs:string"/>
</xs:complexType>
</xs:schema>
< Complete XML Schema Reference