[Xsltforms-support] XML Schema question

[Stephen C. <ste...@gm...>]

Hi List

This is somewhat off the subject of XSLTForms but I'm hoping there are
XML Schema/Schematron experts amongst the group who might like to
comment.

I am building a XML Schema/Schematron designer using XSLTForms and
providing a means to generate XForms from the schemas produced.

The designer side is looking pretty good now, and I'm starting to
focus on the XForms generation side of things.

The basic idea is that XML Schema elements are annotated with
rendering elements indicating how they should be represented in an
XForm.  Also Schematron asserts can be added that become constraints
on binds in the generated forms.

The main requirement is that the schema must be able to generate forms
and also be useful for validating the XML generated by each form at
the server.

My current problem is in regard to XForm select1 elements, it is
simple to indicate that a schema simple element should become a
select1 but not so simple to indicate where the itemset for the
select1 should come from (at least in a way that seems logical to me).

I want to use an itemset that is bound to an 'code-list' instance
nodeset and provide a separate CRUD Xform for maintaining the items in
the code-list. Also. sometimes I want to be able to maintain a
hierarchical code-list such that two or more selects (one after the
other in the form) are linked to the same instance and selecting an
item in one itemset affects what is visible in the select1 itemset
below it (and so on). These are very common requirements and so I'd
like to create an intuitive way to set this scenario up in the
designer.

This is something that is simple in a relational schema but not so
straight-forward in XML Schema. I think what I am wanting is to define
a element and say the possible set of values for that element are in
another element altogether and I'm not sure if the relationship needs
to be a derivation of the first element from the second element.

If there is anyone with expertise in this arena that might like to comment.

Thanks

Steve Cameron