You can use the redefine mechanism to redefine
simple and complex types, groups, and attribute groups obtained from external
schema files. When you redefine a component, you are modifying its contents.
Like the include mechanism, redefine requires
the external components to be in the same target namespace as the redefining
schema, although external components from schemas that have no namespace can
also be redefined.
The following instructions were written for the Resource
perspective, but they will also work in many other perspectives.
To
add a redefine element:
- Open your XML schema in the XML schema editor.
- In the Outline view, select your schema. The entire
schema and its contents are displayed in the Design view.
- In the Design view, right-click in the Directives section
and click Add Redefine.
- In the Properties view, click the General tab and click Browse
to
the right of the Schema location field.
The XML schema file you select must have the same namespace as the current
schema.
- If you want to select an XML schema located in the workbench, select Workbench
projects and click Next.
- Select the schema you want to include and click Finish.
- If you want to select an XML schema located on the Web, select HTTP and
click Next.
- Type the URL of the XML schema and click Finish.
Note: A local copy of the schema will not be stored in the workbench.
Every time you validate your schema, the schema's contents will be checked
from the URL you specify.
- The XML schema editor will retrieve the location of the included
XML schema file, and display it in the Schema location field.
This field can be edited at any time to reflect the location of the XML schema
file.
- Click the Documentation tab if you want
to provide any information about this redefine element. The Documentation page
is used for human readable material, such as a description.
- Click the Extensions tab if you want to
add application information elements to your annotations of schema components.
The Extensions page allows you to specify the
schema and add XML content to your annotations.
Once you have added the redefine element to your XML schema, you
can redefine any of the simple and complex types, groups, and attribute groups
in the XML schema you selected in the redefine element.