BUG: Validating datasets written from a generated strong-typed dataset

[Nathan Ernst]

I have a pretty simple XSD schema:

*************** *************** **************
* XSD SCHEMA
*************** *************** **************
<?xml version="1.0" encoding="utf-8" ?>
<xs:schema id="PageHitStat istics"
targetNamespace ="urn:PageHitSt atistics"
elementFormDefa ult="qualified"
xmlns="urn:Page HitStatistics"

xmlns:xs="http://www.w3.org/2001/XMLSchema">

<xs:complexTy pe name="CounterDe f">
<xs:attribute name="count"
type="xs:nonNeg ativeInteger" use="required" />
<xs:attribute name="page" type="xs:string "
use="required" />
</xs:complexType>

<xs:element name="PageCount ers">
<xs:complexType >
<xs:choice minOccurs="0"
maxOccurs="unbo unded">
<xs:element name="counter"
type="CounterDe f" minOccurs="0" maxOccurs="unbo unded" />
</xs:choice>
<xs:attribute type="xs:dateTi me"
name="CreateDat eTime" />
</xs:complexType>
</xs:element>
</xs:schema>
*************** *************** **************
* END XSD SCHEMA
*************** *************** **************


Now, I've generated a strongly typed dataset from the XSD
using the MSDataSetGenera tor tool through VS.Net 2003.

When I write the XML using the WriteXml method of the
dataset, it writes XML that will not validate with the
schema it was generated from. The cause of the problem is
the "CreateDateTime " attribute of the "PageCounte rs"
element. If this attribute is ommitted, the generated
dataset writes valid xml, like:

<PageCounters >
<counter count="2" page="/default.aspx" />
</PageCounters>

With the "CreateDateTime " attribute, it writes:
<PageHitStatist ics>
<PageCounters CreateDateTime= "2003-12-10T15:10:17.524 8400-
06:00">
<counter count="1"
page="/dbaweb/internalweb/viewstats.aspx" />
<counter count="1"
page="/dbaweb/reports/dbvendorcase.as px" />
<counter count="1"
page="/dbaweb/reports/dbrepairs.aspx" />
<counter count="2" page="/dbaweb/default.aspx" />
</PageCounters>
</PageHitStatisti cs>

This XML fails to validate because
the "PageHistStatis tics" element is not declared. Does
the dataset generator have a limitation that the root node
cannot have any attributes? Is this documented somewhere,
or is this a bug (which is the assumption underwhich I'm
working now).

I am able to work around this be adding a new root
element, "PageHitStatist ics", with no attributes and then
setting the MaxOccurs of the "PageCounte rs" to 1.

This seems to be a big problem because although the
DataSet can read the correct xml, it writes invalid xml
(according to the schema), and then it cannot read an xml
file it has written (huge problem).

Thanks,
Nathan Ernst
nREMOVEathan.er ALLnst@nav-inCAPSternation al.com
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