FreeXmlToolkit

XSD Tools

Last Updated: November 2025 Version: 1.0.0

This part of the application provides tools for working with XML Schemas (XSD). These tools help you understand, document, and use XSD files effectively.

1. XSD Viewer & Editor

The XSD Viewer lets you explore and edit your schemas. It has two main views:

Graphical View

XSD Graphical View The XSD schema displayed as an interactive tree

Visual Tree: See your XSD as an interactive, hierarchical tree
Easy Navigation: Click on elements to explore their structure
Edit Documentation: Add or edit documentation for schema elements
Add Examples: Include example values for elements

Text View

XSD Text View XSD code editor with syntax highlighting

Full Code Editor: View and edit the raw XSD source code
Syntax Highlighting: Color-coded code for easy reading
Search and Replace: Find and change text quickly
Save as Favorite: Quick access to frequently used schemas

2. Visual Schema Editor

XSD Editor V2 graphical interface

The Visual Schema Editor is an advanced graphical editor for working with XSD files. It provides a complete visual editing experience.

Key Features

Feature	Description
Visual Editing	See your schema as an interactive tree
Full Undo/Redo	Go back and forward through your changes
Type Editing	Edit SimpleTypes and ComplexTypes graphically
Drag & Drop	Reorganize elements by dragging them
XSD 1.0 and 1.1	All XSD features are supported

Edit Schema Structure

Schema tree with elements and types

Add, remove, and move elements
Edit element names, types, and properties
Set cardinality (minOccurs, maxOccurs)
Drag and drop to reorganize

Edit Types

Type editor panel

Create and edit SimpleTypes with facets (patterns, enumerations, etc.)
Create and edit ComplexTypes with sequences, choices, and attributes
See the type hierarchy

Work with Properties

Properties panel

View and edit all properties of selected elements
Edit facets like patterns, lengths, and enumerations
Add documentation to your schema

How to Use the Visual Editor

Go to the XSD tab
Open your XSD file
The schema appears as an interactive tree
Select an element by clicking on it
Edit properties in the panel on the right
Add children using the context menu (right-click)
Drag elements to move them

Supported XSD Features

Category	Features
Elements	Elements, Attributes, Groups
Types	ComplexTypes, SimpleTypes
Compositors	Sequence, Choice, All
Constraints	Patterns, Enumerations, Length limits
References	Import, Include
XSD 1.1	Assertions, Alternatives

Tips

Double-click an element to edit its name
Right-click for a context menu with common actions
Ctrl+Z to undo, Ctrl+Y to redo
Ctrl+S to save (a backup is created automatically)

3. Documentation Generator

Documentation Generator Generated HTML documentation from an XSD schema

Create professional HTML documentation from your XSD file automatically.

How to Generate Documentation

Load your XSD file in the XSD Viewer
Click on the “Documentation” tab
Choose your options (image format, etc.)
Click “Generate”
Preview the documentation in the built-in viewer

Options

Option	Description
Image Format	Choose PNG or SVG for diagrams
Markdown Support	Render Markdown formatting in documentation
Live Preview	View the documentation immediately
Open Folder	Access the generated files directly

Adding Technical Notes to Your Schema

You can add structured technical information directly in your XSD files. This information appears in a separate section of the generated documentation.

Supported tags:

@since - When a feature was introduced
@see - References to other elements
@deprecated - Mark elements as deprecated
{@link /path/to/element} - Create clickable links

Example in your XSD:

<xs:element name="Transaction">
  <xs:annotation>
    <!-- User-friendly documentation -->
    <xs:documentation>
      Represents a single financial transaction.
    </xs:documentation>

    <!-- Technical notes for developers -->
    <xs:appinfo source="@since 4.0.0"/>
    <xs:appinfo source="@see {@link /FundsXML4/ControlData}"/>
    <xs:appinfo source="@deprecated Use NewTransaction instead."/>
  </xs:annotation>
</xs:element>

4. Sample XML Generator

Screenshot: Sample XML generator panel

Create sample XML files based on your XSD schema. This is useful for testing or as a template.

How to Use

Load your XSD file
Go to the “Sample Data” section
Choose your options:
- Mandatory Only: Include only required elements
- Max Occurrences: Limit repeating elements
Click “Generate”
Save or copy the generated XML