The Welcome window opens each time you run XML Instance (see Figure A). This window gives you shortcuts to functions available from the program's menus. You can bypass this window by clearing the check box at the lower left.
Figure A - Welcome Window
To open an existing XML document, click the Open Document icon. The Open XML File dialog box will appear. Select a file from those listed, or type a file name in the text box, and then click the Open button. The program will initialize with the document loaded. Any data stored in the document will appear in the Edit area, and the structure of the document's underlying schema, if any, will be displayed in the Tag area.
Hint: A right click on the Open Document icon on the Welcome Window provides quick access to recently opened XML documents (Figure B).
Figure B - Recently opened XML files
To create a new XML document, click the Create Document icon. XML Instance opens an untitled document, with a root element called root. If you are creating a document from scratch, begin by renaming root to the name of the root element for your document and continue inserting elements and attributes as well as element content and attribute values.
If you have a schema upon which to base your new document, your first step should be to select the schema via the Set Schema button on the Toolbar. The Apply Schema dialog box will appear. Select a schema file from those listed, or type a file name in the text box, and then click the Open button. The program will initialize with the schema loaded in the Tag area. For more information, see Create a Document.
Hint: A right click on the Create Document icon on the Welcome Window provides quick access to the schemas recently used to create new XML documents (Figure C). Select a schema from this menu to have it automatically set for the new document.
Figure C - Recently used schemas
Clicking the Help Resources icon (with the question mark) will bring up the XML Instance Help window with a list of topics. Below the Help Resources icon, a menu offers three additional options:
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