Use the DFDL schema editor to create, edit, and
test DFDL schema files.
The DFDL schema editor is
launched when you open an existing DFDL schema file, or when you create
a DFDL schema file by using the wizard.
You use the DFDL schema editor to:
- Edit DFDL schema files. Schema files that are created by the wizard
are automatically populated with content, which you edit as required.
- Populate empty DFDL schema files with DFDL schema objects by creating
the DFDL schema objects and DFDL properties required to represent
your message format.
- Test parse your DFDL schema files against sample input data, and
view a visual representation of how the DFDL parser uses the DFDL
schema annotations to parse your input data.
- Test serialize a logical instance document against your DFDL schema
file, and view a visual representation of how the DFDL serializer
uses the DFDL schema annotations to serialize your output stream.
The DFDL schema editor uses several Eclipse views, which are
organized according to the current perspective. An example is shown
in the following figure:

- 1. Broker Development view
- The Broker Development view shows
a hierarchical view of all the resources that are currently in your
workspace. By expanding the folder for a project, you can see the
resources, including any DFDL schema files, that this message set
project contains. Selecting a DFDL schema file in this view opens
it for editing in the Editor.
- 2. Outline view
- This view displays an outline of the DFDL schema file that is
currently open in the editor area, and lists its structural elements.
- 3. Editor
- You use the Editor to define the logical structure of your data
formats by creating DFDL schema objects such as Elements, Complex
types, Simple types, and Groups. You also use the Editor to define
DFDL annotation objects such as Formats, Escape schemes, and Variables.
The Editor shows the DFDL objects for the DFDL schema file that you
have opened.
A main toolbar spans the Editor and the DFDL Properties
area. Use the buttons on this toolbar to control what is displayed
(hide all properties, show advanced properties, show quick outline,
show only the selected item), to test parse and test serialize the
model, and to create a logical instance.
Use the toolbar that
is located below the main toolbar, to the left of the Editor view,
to add, remove, and reorder elements.
Use the tabs across the
top of the Editor to switch between open DFDL schema files.
- 4. DFDL Properties
- You use the DFDL Properties area to edit the DFDL representation
properties, variables, and test conditions for your DFDL objects.
The DFDL Properties area shows the DFDL properties for the object
that you have currently selected in the Editor. The DFDL properties
area has three tabs:
- Representation Properties.
Tip: - Use Filter to find the property that you
want to change.
- To unset a property value, use the buttons to the right of the
filter bar. Using the Delete key can result in the property being
set to an empty string, rather than being unset.
- Click Show basic to filter properties.
If only basic properties are displayed, click Show advanced to
display all properties.
- Variables. DFDL variables are not fully
supported in the current IBM® implementation
of DFDL.
- Asserts and Discriminators . Define
DFDL asserts and discriminator tests to ensure, during parsing, well-formed
data, and to resolve points of uncertainty.
- 5. Problems view
- Each time you save a change within a DFDL schema file, the content
is validated to ensure that the DFDL schema file follows the DFDL
specification. All informational, warning, and error messages that
relate to the validation appear in this view. Double-click a problem
to display the object in error in the editor.
- 6. Help
- This view displays help on the item that has focus. If the Help
view is not displayed, press F1.
DFDL test perspective
The DFDL Test perspective
gives you tools to test whether your DFDL schema file correctly models
your data. Click
Test Parse Model or
Test
Serialize Model in the Editor area to switch to the perspective.

- 1. Editor
- The editor, as previously described.
- 2. DFDL Test - Parse
- You use the DFDL Test - Parse view to view
how the DFDL parser used your DFDL schema file to parse your input
data. Selecting a DFDL schema element in the Editor area highlights
the associated data in the DFDL Test Parse view, and vice versa.
- 3. DFDL Test - Serialize
- You use the DFDL Test - Serialize view
to view how the DFDL serializer used your DFDL schema file to serialize
your sample logical instance data. Selecting a DFDL schema element
in the Editor area highlights the associated data in the DFDL Test
Serialize view.
- 4. DFDL Test - Trace
- You use the DFDL Test - Trace view to identify
any DFDL parsing errors that occurred during test parsing of sample
data, or any DFDL serializing errors that occurred during test serialization
of sample data.
- 5. DFDL Test - Logical instance
- The DFDL Test - Logical Instance view shows the results of the
DFDL parser parsing your input data using your DFDL schema. The results
are in a logical tree format, sometimes called an infoset.
Data in the view can also be generated by the Create Logical
Instance button. The logical data can also be used as
input data to the DFDL serializer.
The view has two tabs, a Tree
view and an XML view. Both tabs display the same data, in different
formats.
- 6. Help
- Help, as previously described.