extensibility

Checking Errors in a Schema


Errors can occur:

Any errors that appear in declarations are denoted with a red row selector/error indicator in the appropriate pane  For example, the element declaration shown in Figure A shows the red indicator next to Author's element type declaration.  Hovering the mouse cursor over the red indicator displays a description of the error (in this case, "The element type 'firstname' does not exist").  Errors can be checked for at any time by selecting the Check for errors option from the Tools menu

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Figure A - An element type declaration error marked with a red row selector/error indicator.

After correcting an error, it's good practice to select Check for errors again to update error information in the schema. The Check for errors option is also useful for catching errors that require large-scale cross-referencing. If there are errors found, the errors pane (shown below in Figure B) will appear.

The Errors pane (shown in Figure B) displays problems that XML Authority has found while importing a schema or found during a check of the current schema. It will appear if there are errors when a schema (or SGML DTD) is initially opened, and may also be opened from the View menu.

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Figure B - The Errors pane (at bottom).

The messages XML Authority provides describe the problem as XML Authority sees it, which may be the result of several layers of processing when parameter entities are involved. Clicking on the error message will take you to the source of the error. If the error was an error on import, you'll be able to edit the original imported material and reparse it. If the error was found after the declaration was imported into or created within XML Authority, you'll be able to edit the code in the source pane. (The header in the file will indicate whether the material you are editing is "Original Source" for an import or "Generated Source".)

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