Provided by: libsoap-wsdl-perl_3.004-2_all 
NAME
SOAP::WSDL::Manual::XSD - SOAP::WSDL's XML Schema implementation
DESCRIPTION
SOAP::WSDL's XML Schema implementation translates XML Schema definitions into perl
classes.
Every top-level type or element in a XML schema is translated into a perl class (usually
in it's own file).
Atomic types are either directly included in the class of their parent's node, or as sub-
package in their parent class' file.
While the implementation is still incomplete, it covers the XML schema definitions used by
most object mappers.
USAGE
You can use SOAP::WSDL::XSD based classes just like any perl class - you may instantiate
it, inherit from it etc.
You should be aware, that SOAP::WSDL::XSD based classes are inside-out classes using
Class::Std::Fast, though - things you would expect from hash-based classes like using the
blessed hash ref as data storage won't work.
Moreover, most all SOAP::WSDL::XSD::Typelib based classes override Class::Std::Fast's
default constructor for speed - you should not expect BUILD or START methods to work,
unless you call them yourself (or define a new constructor).
All SOAP::WSDL::XSD based complexType classes allow a hash ref matching their data
structure as only parameter to new(). You may mix hash and list refs and objects in the
structure passed to new - as long as the structure matches, it will work fine.
All SOAP::WSDL::XSD based simpleType (and builtin) classes accept a single hash ref with
the only key "value" and the value to be set as value.
Conversions
Array dereference
All SOAP::WSDL::XSD based classes overload arrayification - that is being accessed as a
list ref - with a method returning [ $self ].
This means that you can safely use the results of get_ELEMENT calls on complexTypes as
list refs (you'll have to check for definedness, though - see
SOAP::WSDL::XSD::Typelib::Builtin for details.
To iterate over a (potential) list of child elements just do the following:
if (defined $obj->get_ELEMENT()) {
for (@{ $obj->get_ELEMENT() }) {
...
}
}
This is especially useful in mini-languages like HTML::Template::Compiled, where you could
say
<%IF_DEFINED obj.get_ELEMENT %>
<%LOOP obj.get_ELEMENT %>
...
<%/LOOP>
<%IF%>
Note that this does not work in HTML::Template::Compiled yet - the code generated for the
template checks UNIVERSAL::isa instead of dereferencing. There's a ticket open in HTC to
solve the issue.
as_hash_ref
SOAP::WSDL::XSD::Typelib::ComplexType based objects have a method as_hash_ref, which
returns the object's content as a hash reference.
This can be convenient for cloning:
my $class = ref $old;
my $clone = $class->new( $old->as_hash_ref() );
To convert from one type to another, you can just say
my $new = MyTypes::NewType->new( $old->as_hash_ref() );
Of course this will only work if MyTypes::NewType has a superset of the old object class'
elements.
Note that XML attribute data is not included in the hash ref output yet.
HOW IT WORKS
Base classes
SOAP::WSDL::XSD provides a set of base classes for the construction of XML schema defined
type classes.
Builtin types
SOAP::WSDL::XSD provides classes for all builtin XML Schema datatypes.
For a list and reference on these classes, see SOAP::WSDL::XSD::Typelib::Builtin.
Derivation classes
For derivation by list, the list derivation class SOAP::WSDL::XSD::Typelib::Builtin::list
exists.
Derivation by restriction is handled without the help of additional classes.
Element construction class
For the construction of element classes, the element superclass
SOAP::WSDL::XSD::Typelib::Element exists. All elements are ultimately derived from this
class. Elements may inherit from type classes, too - see "TRANSLATION RULES" for details.
complexType construction class
For the construction of complexType classes, the construction class
SOAP::WSDL::XSD::Typelib::ComplexType is provided. It provides a __factory method for
placing attributes in generated classes, and generating appropriate setter/getter
accessors.
The setters are special: They handle complex data structures of any type (meaning hash
refs, list refs and objects, and any combination of them), as long as their structure
matches the expected structure.
TRANSLATION RULES
element
TODO add more elaborate description
element with type attribute
Elements defined by referencing a builtin or user defined type inherit from
SOAP::WSDL::XSD::Typelib::Element and from the corresponding type class.
Element Type
base class class
^ ^
| |
------------
|
Element type="" class
element with ref attribute
Elements defined by referencing another element inherit from the corresponding element
class.
referenced Element class
^
|
Element ref="" class
element with atomic simpleType
Elements defined by a atomic simpleType from SOAP::WSDL::XSD::Typelib::Element and from
the base type of the atomic type.
Element atomic Type
base class base class
^ ^
| |
--------------
|
element simpleType class
element with atomic complexType
Elements defined with a atomic complexType inherit from SOAP::WSDL::XSD::Typelib::Element
and from SOAP::WSDL::XSD::Typelib::ComplexType.
Element complexType
base class base class
^ ^
| |
--------------
|
element complexType class
complexType
TODO add more elaborate description
Some content models are not implemented yet. The content models implemented are described
below.
complexType with "all" variety
Complex types with "all" variety inherit from SOAP::WSDL::XSD::Typelib::ComplexType, and
call it's factory method for creating fields and accessors/mutators for the complexType's
elements.
All element's type classes are loaded. Complex type classes have a "has a" relationship to
their element fields.
Element fields may either be element classes (for element ref="") or type classes (for
element type=""). No extra element classes are created for a complexType's elements.
complexType
base class
^
|
complexType all
---------------- has a
element name="a" ------------> Element or type class object
element name="b" ------------> Element or type class object
The implementation for all does enforce the order of elements as described in the WSDL,
even though this is not required by the XML Schema specification.
complexType with "sequence" variety
The implementation of the "sequence" variety is the same as for all.
complexType with "choice" variety
The implementation for choice currently is the same as for all - which means, no check for
occurrence are made.
complexType with complexContent content model
Note that complexType classes with complexContent content model don't exhibit their type
via the xsi:type attribute yet, so they currently cannot be used as a replacement for
their base type.
SOAP::WSDL's XSD deserializer backend does not recognize the xsi:type="" attribute either
yet.
• restriction variety
ComplexType classes with restriction variety inherit from their base type. No
additional processing or content checking is performed yet.
complexType
base type class
^
|
complexType
restriction
• extension variety
ComplexType classes with extension variety inherit from the XSD base complexType class
and from their base type.
Extension classes are checked for (re-)defining all elements of their parent class.
Note that a derived type's elements (=properties) overrides the getter / setter
methods for all inherited elements. All object data is stored in the derived type's
class, not in the defining class (See Class::Std for a discussion on inside out object
data storage).
No additional processing or content checking is performed yet.
complexType complexType
base class base type class
^ ^
| |
-----------------
|
complexType
extension
SimpleType
TODO add more elaborate description
Some derivation methods are not implemented yet. The derivation methods implemented are
described below.
Derivation by list
Derivation by list is implemented by inheriting from both the base type and
SOAP::WSDL::XSD::Typelib::XSD::list.
Derivation by restriction
Derivation by restriction is implemented by inheriting from a base type and applying the
required restrictions.
FACETS
XML Schema facets are not implemented yet.
They will probably implemented some day by putting constant methods into the correspondent
classes.
Attributes
The attribute set for a XML element (derived from anySimpleType or complexType) is
implemented as a sub-package of the element derived from
SOAP::WSDL::XSD::Typelib::AttributeSet.
The sub-package is named as the corresponding type or element package, suffixed with
"XmlAttr". The suffix "XmlAttr" has carefully been chosen to avoid potential naming
clashes: The name XmlAttr cannot be included as element or type name in XML schemas - the
XML standard bans the use of names starting with "xml" (case-insensitive).
All XML attributes for a XML element are set- and retrievable via the method "attr". The
name is chosen to allow mimicking SOAP::Lite's behaviour, which allows setting a
SOAP::Data object's attributes via "attr".
my $attrSet = $obj->attr();
$obj->attr({
whitespace => 'preserve',
nillable => 1,
});
SOAP::WSDL::XSD::Typelib::AttributeSet is derived from
SOAP::WSDL::XSD::Typelib::ComplexType with content model "all". The individual attributes
can be set and retrieved via the respective set_FOO / get_FOO methods.
The "attr" method provides auto-vivification: An xml object's attribute set is
instantiated when accessed.
Auto-vivification is only triggered if there actually is a set of attributes for the
class/object in question, so you may want to test whether the result of ->attr is defined:
my $attr = $unknownObject->attr();
if (defined($attr)) {
$unknownObject->attr({
some => 'value',
});
}
group
CAVEAT: Group resolution is not implemented yet.
XML Schema Group definitions are just treated as aliases that can be inserted in
complexType definitions by referencing them. That is, there's no difference between a
complexType with simpleContent and a sequence of three elements, and a complexType with
simpleContent referencing a group containing the same sequence of elements.
CAVEATS
• START and BUILD are not being called
In contrast to "normal" Class::Std::Fast based objects, the classes of the
SOAP::WSDL::XSD::Typelib:: hierarchy (and all type and element classes generated by
SOAP::WSDL) override Class::Std's constructor for performance reasons.
If you inherit from such a class and place a START or BUILD method in it, it will not
get called - at least not unless you place something like this at the top of you code:
use Class::Std::Fast::Storable;
In this case, Class::Std::Fast::Storable will export a new() method into your class,
which in turn calls START and BUILD.
The constructors of all SOAP::WSDL::XSD::Typelib:: classes don't !
BUGS AND LIMITATIONS
The following XML Schema declaration elements are not supported yet:
XML Schema elements partially supported
Type definition elements
• simpleContent
simpleContent is only supported with a restriction or extension with a "base"
attribute. simpleContent declarations deriving from a atomic type are not supported
(yet).
Inclusion elements
• import
The import inclusion element requires the schemaLocation attribute for resolving the
XML schema to import. Support for the import element is implemented in
SOAP::WSDL::Expat::WSDLParser, so alternative parsers may or may not support the
import element.
SOAP::WSDL::Expat::WSDLParser keeps track of included schemas and prevents import
loops.
Facets
The following XML Schema declaration elements are supported, but have no effect yet.
• enumeration
• fractionDigits
• length
• maxExclusive
• maxInclusiove
• maxLength
• minExclusive
• minInclusive
• minLength
• pattern
• totalDigits
• whitespace
XML Schema elements not implemented
Declaration elements
• notation
Content model definition elements
• any
The horror of each XML schema implementation: Just anything...
"any" declarations are not supported yet.
• anyAttribute
• attributeGroup
"attributeGroup" declarations actually just are macros for XML Schema writers:
Including an attributeGroup in a declaration has the same effect as including all
attributes in the group.
Just not implemented yet.
• group
The group definition element is not supported yet.
Identity definition elements
These declaration elements don't declare XML elements, but apply identity constraints.
They have no effect yet.
• field
• key
• keyref
• selector
• unique
Inclusion elements
• include
Use of the include inclusion element is forbidden by the WS-I basic profile. It is
not supported (yet).
• redefine
Not supported (yet).
* Documentation elements
• appinfo
The appinfo documentation element is ignored.
LICENSE
Copyright 2007,2008 Martin Kutter.
This file is part of SOAP-WSDL. You may distribute/modify it under the same terms as perl
itself
AUTHOR
Martin Kutter <martin.kutter fen-net.de>
REPOSITORY INFORMATION
$Rev: 390 $
$LastChangedBy: kutterma $
$Id: Client.pm 390 2007-11-16 22:18:32Z kutterma $
$HeadURL: http://soap-wsdl.svn.sourceforge.net/svnroot/soap-wsdl/SOAP-WSDL/trunk/lib/SOAP/WSDL/Client.pm $