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


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.


Introduction

Workbook Layout

Root Analysis

Supporting Items

Enumerations


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


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


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


Case Study 2

Root Element, Business Analysis – Options

Analysis


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




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


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.


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




Case Study 4

Schema Item, Technical Analysis – Options

Analysis


Presentation

By Schema Item

Type of Analysis

Technical Version

Basic Options

Show Equal Children

Include Where Used

Bubble-up Changes

Advanced Options




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




Appendix

Obtaining Updates, Submitting Feedback, Documentation


Appendix

Selecting Schemas to Process

Single Schema

Folder Select


Appendix

Selecting Schemas to Process in a Packaged Environment

Single Schema

Multi Schema


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.


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.


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.

xml schema difference analysis

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