Download - XML Schema Difference Analysis
Drybridge Consulting
Drybridge InvestigatorComprehensive Schema Comparison
Simplifying implementation of schema
improvements through business and
technical difference analysis
Last update: October 14, 2008
Drybridge ConsultingThe Drybridge Investigator – An Excel add-in for XML Schema Comparison
Introduction
What is the Drybridge Schema Investigator?
The Drybridge Investigator analyzes and compares two
schemas, or groups of schemas, and reports on the
differences. Microsoft Excel 2003/2007 add-in
Spreadsheet output enables the analysis to be used as a work document
Business view of the differences
– How the changes impact users of the schema
Technical views of the differences
– What was done to create the difference
Drybridge ConsultingThe Drybridge Investigator – An Excel add-in for XML Schema Comparison
Introduction
How can I use the Drybridge Schema Investigator?
With the Drybridge Investigator you can produce
reports that meet your needs.
I’m working to implement XML communications with a trading partner
and I want to know the differences between their implementation and
mine.
– Single schema analysis showing business impact.
I need to walk through the schema changes with people who are
unfamiliar with XML.
– Root element analysis showing business impact
I’ve implemented several schemas from a standards organization.
How does their new version impact me?
– Schema folder analysis showing business impact.
I’m a schema developer and I want to make sure that no inadvertent
changes have been made to the schema during an upgrade. How can
I be sure?
– Schema folder (or single schema) analysis showing technical impact.
Drybridge ConsultingThe Drybridge Investigator – An Excel add-in for XML Schema Comparison
Introduction
Workbook Layout
Root Analysis
Supporting Items
Enumerations
Drybridge ConsultingThe Drybridge Investigator – An Excel add-in for XML Schema Comparison
Introduction
Analysis Options
Click on the “Investigator”
icon to open the options
window.
Select the “Add-Ins” tab
to access the
Drybridge Technologies
Value added programs.
1
Select the schema,
the type of analysis,
the layout and then
“Start”.
3
In Excel 2003 choose
“Drybridge & Investigator”
2
Drybridge ConsultingThe Drybridge Investigator – An Excel add-in for XML Schema Comparison
Case Study 1
Schema Item, Single Schema, Business Analysis – Options
Analysis
Single Selected Schema
Presentation
By Schema Item
Type of Analysis
Business Version
Basic Options
Show Equal Children
Include Where Used
Bubble-up Changes
Advanced Options
Print Details for Equal Children
Generate Process Audit Info
Drybridge ConsultingThe Drybridge Investigator – An Excel add-in for XML Schema Comparison
Case Study 1
Schema Items Analysis Worksheet
Changes communicated in a straight forward fashion
Links provided to additional information
You can choose to suppress items without any changes
Drybridge ConsultingThe Drybridge Investigator – An Excel add-in for XML Schema Comparison
Case Study 2
Root Element, Business Analysis – Options
Analysis
Single Selected Schema
Presentation
Root Element Based
Type of Analysis
Business Version
Basic Options
– Primary Items Level = 3
Show Equal Children
Include Where Used
Bubble-up Changes
Advanced Options
Print Details for Equal Children
Generate Process Audit Info
Drybridge ConsultingThe Drybridge Investigator – An Excel add-in for XML Schema Comparison
Case Study 2
Root Element Analysis Worksheet
Comparison starts at the
root element
Cardinality and type
changes communicated in a
straight forward fashion
Links provided to additional
information
You can choose to suppress
items without any changes
Drybridge ConsultingThe Drybridge Investigator – An Excel add-in for XML Schema Comparison
Case Study 2
Supporting Items Worksheet
Alphabetic listing of all
elements used by the
primary items.
Cardinality and type
changes communicated in a
straight forward fashion.
Links provided to facilitate
navigation.
Where-used information
permits impact
determination.
Drybridge ConsultingThe Drybridge Investigator – An Excel add-in for XML Schema Comparison
Case Study 3
Schema Item, Schema Folder, Business Analysis – Options
Analysis
All Schema in Folder
Presentation
By Schema Item
Type of Analysis
Business Version
Basic Options
Show Equal Children
Include Where Used
Bubble-up Changes
Advanced Options
Print Details for Equal Children
Generate Process Audit Info
Drybridge ConsultingThe Drybridge Investigator – An Excel add-in for XML Schema Comparison
Case Study 4
Schema Item, Technical Analysis – Options
Analysis
Single Selected Schema
Presentation
By Schema Item
Type of Analysis
Technical Version
Basic Options
Show Equal Children
Include Where Used
Bubble-up Changes
Advanced Options
Print Details for Equal Children
Generate Process Audit Info
Drybridge ConsultingThe Drybridge Investigator – An Excel add-in for XML Schema Comparison
Case Study 5
Schema Item, Schema Folder, Technical Analysis – Options
Analysis
All Schema in Folder
Presentation
By Schema Item
Type of Analysis
Technical Version
Basic Options
Show Equal Children
Include Where Used
Bubble-up Changes
Advanced Options
Print Details for Equal Children
Generate Process Audit Info
Drybridge ConsultingThe Drybridge Investigator – An Excel add-in for XML Schema Comparison
Appendix
Obtaining Updates, Submitting Feedback, Documentation
Drybridge ConsultingThe Drybridge Investigator – An Excel add-in for XML Schema Comparison
Appendix
Selecting Schemas to Process
Single Schema
Folder Select
Drybridge ConsultingThe Drybridge Investigator – An Excel add-in for XML Schema Comparison
Appendix
Selecting Schemas to Process in a Packaged Environment
Single Schema
Multi Schema
Drybridge ConsultingThe Drybridge Investigator – An Excel add-in for XML Schema Comparison
Appendix
Frequently Asked Questions
What are the various types of changes?
– Adds, Changes, Deletes. Changes to type, cardinality and
content model.
How are local items handled?
– Local items are associated with their parent and analysis
performed on the group.
How is a where-used match determined?
– With global items the matching is straight-forward. When you
factor in local items the Investigator first looks for a local match
and then for the global item match.
How is a change determined?
– With the exception of “position within the parent” every change,
as indicated above, is processed.
Drybridge ConsultingThe Drybridge Investigator – An Excel add-in for XML Schema Comparison
Appendix
Enumerations Worksheet
Alphabetic listing of all elements and attributes whose enumerations have
changed.
Only the differences are shown.
Where-used information permits impact determination.
Drybridge ConsultingThe Drybridge Investigator – An Excel add-in for XML Schema Comparison
Appendix
Process Audit Example for Folder Analysis
The process audit
worksheet provides
information about errors
and content found during
the analysis process.
This sample illustrates
the folder processing
steps.