The Schema

This page contains links to different versions of the schema.

XSD schemas will display in any XML viewer such as InternetExplorer, but best viewed with XML editing software such as XMLSpy. The file ABCDNameTypes.xsd is a required inclusion for all schema versions. It is an XSD schema fragment derived from the TDWG ABCD schema, reproducing a standard representation of scientific names.

(Note: in the absence of good (expensive) software the XMLSpy-formatted documentation is the most accessible representation of the schema. This is available for the StrawMan and DraftStandard schemas.)

early versions (SEEK)

• seek cvs
• v0.50 the StrawMan presented at the eScience workshop in Edinburgh
• v0.51 uses keyref instead idref for constraints

experimental versions (internal)

• v0.52 elements for adding relationships without defining a concept - clumsy
• v0.53 streamlined v0.52, directed relationships; renamed to assertion; will these get GUIDs?
• v0.54 detach names from concepts (still contoversial) breaks out names so they can be re-used, name specific info can be added, spelling from concept publication is preserved in NameSimple, link to name is optional; via reference
• v0.55 just a fragment to explore the use of abstract types in XSD - more elegant way to express alternatives
• v0.56 restructure names/concepts/assertions as Taxon Entities
• v0.57 use abstract types for above
• v0.58 splitting up TaxonConcepts

schema under discussion (public)

• v0.60 relaxed concept types, assertions (concept relationships)
• v0.61 refinement & documentation
• v0.62 enumerations for types/relationship/concepts
• v0.63 better documentation
• v0.70 the DraftStandard submitted for consideration as a TDWG standard

experimental versions (internal)

• v0.71
• re-ordered top-level containers to reduce back-references (SEEK)
• made (some) Meta data compulsory (SEEK)
• name optional (to make "empty" concepts truely empty)
• changed NCName to NMToken for ID and ref attributes to allow for additional characters that might occur as part of a GUID
• "empty" attribute for all top level items
• renamed Assertion to RelationshipAssertion
• additional type "is ambiregnal of"
• minor additions to documentation
• v0.72
• fixed bug where one assertion could reference multiple concepts
• added additional simple types
• v0.73
• removed "@empty" attributes from all 4 top-level elements - emptiness can be expressed by actually being empty
• to express that empty elements are possible now uses optional sequence instead of optional child elements. (might cause problems with certain parsers?)
• removed "@gref" attribute (references now need a dummy (empty) record inside the document

new schema version for public discussion (half-way to TDWG meeting)

• v0.80
• removed key-ref constraints (they just made it cumbersome to cater for external references via GUIDs and were of questionable usefulness anyway)
• v0.81 attempt to flatten the structure slightly - abandoned as no benefit could be seen
• v0.82 voucher tidied up and brought in line with ABCD and other schema
• v0.83 intermediate version - anytype variations
• v0.84
• cleared up some inconsistencies in naming
• PlaceholderType for undefined schema parts
• ProviderSpecificData / MetaData

schema version for public discussion at TDWG meeting

• v0.85
• fixed bug introduced in 0.84 (identifier)
• relaxed ID and ref types to token

schema version for SEEK

• v0.88
• ABCD datatypes are physically included
• moved @type from Publication to PublicationDetailed, and added sea namespace
• re-added old publication and voucher structure
• changed minOccur for institution to 0
• v0.88a - added ProviderLink element
• v0.88b - fixed ProviderLink element

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The current version of the ABCDNameTypes.xsd. Taken from ABCD v 1.30 by RobertKukla and editted to remove types that are irrelevant for TDWG, this XSD is specified as an XSD include in the TCSchema

• ABCDNameTypes.xsd

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experimental schema version to incorporate (a modified) LinneanCore as the Name Element

• v0.90
• uses lc015_napier1 as included
• a xslt stylesheet v088tov090 to transform XML files conforming to v0.88 to v0.90 (not all info can be transferred)
• v0.90b - fixed ProviderLink element

version of the Schema submitted to the TDWG Executive Committee 20th March 2005

• v0.95 based on [v0.90b|http://tdwg.napier.ac.uk/tcml/v090b.xsd, kingdom renamed as NomenCode? and moved to scientific name, rank moved to scientific name
• v0.95.2 Name Objects as top level elements
• v0.95.3 resulting from the resolution raised on the tracker
• v1.00 Final version - no changes before the meeting