Architecting and designing : XML integration with other methods : Data model to XML transformations : Data model integration : Transforming data structures
  
Transforming data structures
You can drag a data structure from your browser or the Choices dialog onto an open XML diagram. The data structure becomes fully expanded and transformed into either an XML element entity (DTDs only) or XML attribute entity (DTDs only) dependent on the value of the XMLStructAsAttributeEntity setting in the Sa2001.ini file. The options for this setting are:
Option
Description
yes (default)
All data structures become XML attribute entities.
no
All data structures become XML element entities.
prompt
Prompt for each data structure.
If the data structure is transformed into an XML element entity, all referenced data elements become XML elements. If the data structure is transformed into an XML attribute entity, all referenced data elements become XML attributes. See Transforming data elements for a description of these transformations. A symbol tree is then constructed that represents the hierarchy of the data structure and its child references.
Example
If XMLStructAsAttributeEntity=yes, then:
▪Structure1 contains DataElement1 & Structure2
▪Structure2 contains DataElement2 & DataElement3
This is displayed as:
Property transformations
Data structure to XML element entity
Symbol:
Type
Element entity
Name
Name of the data structure.
Definition:
Type
XML element entity
Name
Name of the data structure.
Source Data
Dropped data structure name.
Data structure to XML attribute entity
Symbol:
Type
Attribute entity
Name
Name of the data structure.
Definition:
Type
XML attribute entity
Name
Name of the data structure.
Source Data
Dropped data structure name.
See also
Data model integration