¶ Xml Schema panel
This panel is designed to work with the data structure of the forms. The user can create a schema root element, schema from a loaded file with an Xml sample and can also map controls of the form to the Xml Schema using the buttons on the local toolbar. All this can be designed in a simple and convenient graphic environment.
Empty Xml Schema Panel
The schema panel also allows for partially automated form designing using the drag and drop function of schema nodes onto the form (applies to the following elements: Text Box and Masked Text Box).
¶ Create new schema root element
The Create new schema root element button opens a dialogue window, asking the user to input parameters necessary to create the root node of the schema.
Xml Schema panel: New root element dialogue
¶ Setting items
- Node name: The name of the schema node.
- Namespace: Xml namespace of the schema node.
- For all sub-elements: When checked, the entered namespace is also applied to the child elements (recursively).
- Including attributes: When checked, the entered namespace is also applied to the child schema attributes.
- Is nillable: Flags the schema as nillable. I.e. when its data value is null, the resulting xml element is empty and marked with attribute xsi:null with value of "true".
- Source - Default value: Default value for the schema node. Used when the value from the mapped element should be null or empty.
- Source - Element: Selects a control to map to this node.
- Source - Property: Shows a property serving as a data source.
- Source type - Direct (element property): Takes the exact value of the property as the data source.
- Source type - Content (repeating elements): Row - Takes the DataGrid row as the data source. Column - Takes the DataGrid column as the data source.
The newly created nods will be shown in the Xml Schema Panel.
Newly created item will appear in the Xml Schema panel
¶ Context menu
When the user right-clicks any of the nodes or clicks the arrow button next to the node name, a context menu will open.
Xml Schema panel - context menu
- The context menu item Add Attribute opens a schema node dialogue that allows the user to create a new child schema attribute.
- The context menu item Add Element opens a schema node dialogue that allows the user to create a new child schema element.
- The menu items Move Up and Move Down allow the user to move the selected items up or down a node.
- The menu item Delete Element removes the currently selected schema node.
- When the Properties option is selected, or when the user left double-clicks one of the nodes, the Properties schema dialogue for the selected item opens.
¶ Mass mapping
Clicking the Mass mapping button on the schema panel toolbar opens a dialogue window that allows the user to map form controls to the xml schema.
Xml Schema panel - Mass mapping dialogue window
- The Map button maps selected control to the selected schema node.
- The Unmap button removes the existing mapping between the selected control and the selected node.
- The Unmap control button removes all schema mappings of the selected control.
- The Unmap nodes button removes mapping from all of the selected schema nodes.
- The Unmap all button removes all mappings of all controls to any xml schema node.
¶ Drag and drop function
The Xml Schema panel provides a useful drag and drop function when the user can use the xml structure (newly created, previously used or third party defined) to create forms.
Selected nodes can be dragged and from the panel and dropped to the form editor, creating pairs of Text block and Text box elements.