repeatable XML element

[Moore]

Hello

I would like to model an entity(ET) in XML that has a repeatable element.

<ET id="list">
   <ELEM name="description" type="string/>
   <ELEM name="list_entry" type="string"/>         
</ET>

I want the list_entry to be repeatable - is it just a case adding another tag
How best to do this?

thank you

[Alsvha]

So you need multiple "list_entry" within the list?

Then yes, you can just repeat the list_entry:

<ET id="list">
   <ELEM name="description" type="string/>
   <ELEM name="list_entry" type="string"/>         
   <ELEM name="list_entry" type="string"/>         
   <ELEM name="list_entry" type="string"/>         
   <ELEM name="list_entry" type="string"/>         
   <ELEM name="list_entry" type="string"/>         
   <ELEM name="list_entry" type="string"/>         
</ET>

but alternative and perhaps more "pretty" and easier to read, you can wrap all the entries in a container tag, something like:

<ET id="list">
   <ELEM name="description" type="string/>
   <ET id="entries">
        <ELEM name="list_entry" type="string"/>         
        <ELEM name="list_entry" type="string"/>         
        <ELEM name="list_entry" type="string"/>         
        <ELEM name="list_entry" type="string"/>         
        <ELEM name="list_entry" type="string"/>         
        <ELEM name="list_entry" type="string"/>         
    </ET>
</ET>

[Moore]

thanks for your reply and info.

what would be the best way to describe a variable number of list_entry elements though?
could you just add attribute to indicate maximum # of instances of the list_entry
or do you have static elements defined?

thanks

[Alsvha]

That depends on how you want to "display" it.

If you're building up a Schema (XSD) file to display the structure fo the XML file, you use the XSD syntax to display sequences and occurrences.

I'm unfamiliar with the syntax you're using, so I don't know whether it is a specific definition language or just pseudo code?
If it is a specific definition language, I would guess there already would be some sort of defined standard for displaying relationships/sequences.

However, if it is just pseudo code then I'd properly do something like this:

<ET id="list">
   <ELEM name="description" type="string/>
   <ET id="entries" entrycount="6">
        <ELEM name="list_entry" type="string"/>         
        <ELEM name="list_entry" type="string"/>         
        <ELEM name="list_entry" type="string"/>         
        <ELEM name="list_entry" type="string"/>         
        <ELEM name="list_entry" type="string"/>         
        <ELEM name="list_entry" type="string"/>         
    </ET>
</ET>

meaning using an attribute on the parent container tag to display the number. If you need that information of course.

[Moore]

thank much for your helpful posts.