Generating test data from an XML Schema

[Jonathan Fine]

Hello

I want to generate test data from an XML schema. I've had a quick look
at existing tools (such as minixsv and amara) but from what I've seen
they don't seem to help.

It is of course easy to extract all the element names from a schema, but
I want more than that.

Motivation: I wish to create a subset of TeX/LaTeX that can be easily
translated into XML that validates against an existing schema. I also
want the input TeX to be fairly easy to author (so a simple mechanical
translation will not work).

A tool that provides a nice Python interface to navigating the schema
would probably be quite helpful.

Has anyone seen anything that might help generate test data from a schema?

--
Jonathan

[Mark Thomas]

Re: Generating test data from an XML Schema

On Sep 17, 5:29 am, Jonathan Fine <J.F...@open.ac .ukwrote:

Hello
>
I want to generate test data from an XML schema.  I've had a quick look
at existing tools (such as minixsv and amara) but from what I've seen
they don't seem to help.

....

A tool that provides a nice Python interface to navigating the schema
would probably be quite helpful.
>
Has anyone seen anything that might help generate test data from a schema?

I'm unaware of anything in Python, but Eclipse can generate sample
documents from a schema:

http://help.eclipse.org/help32/index.jsp?topic=/org.eclipse.wst.xmleditor..doc.user/topics/tcrexxsd.html

As can XML IDEs such as Stylus Studio and XML Spy.

-- Mark.

[Jonathan Fine]

Re: Generating test data from an XML Schema

Mark Thomas wrote:

>Has anyone seen anything that might help generate test data from a schema?

>
I'm unaware of anything in Python, but Eclipse can generate sample
documents from a schema:

http://help.eclipse.org/help32/index.jsp?topic=/org.eclipse.wst.xmleditor.doc.user/topics/tcrexxsd.html

>
As can XML IDEs such as Stylus Studio and XML Spy.

Mark - thank you for this. The problem is that I'd like to sit quite
close to the schema and manipulate the generation of the test data.
(This is because a straight representation won't suit my needs.)

However, if I get the chance I'll look at these tools, in case they can
help me. Thank you for the suggestion.

--
Jonathan

[Stefan Behnel]

Re: Generating test data from an XML Schema

Mark Thomas wrote:

On Sep 17, 5:29 am, Jonathan Fine <J.F...@open.ac .ukwrote:

>I want to generate test data from an XML schema. I've had a quick look
>at existing tools (such as minixsv and amara) but from what I've seen
>they don't seem to help.

...

>A tool that provides a nice Python interface to navigating the schema
>would probably be quite helpful.
>>
>Has anyone seen anything that might help generate test data from a schema?

>
I'm unaware of anything in Python, but Eclipse can generate sample
documents from a schema:

http://help.eclipse.org/help32/index.jsp?topic=/org.eclipse.wst.xmleditor.doc.user/topics/tcrexxsd.html

>
As can XML IDEs such as Stylus Studio and XML Spy.

There's also a Java tool called the "XML instance generator" by Sun that
supports XML Schema and RelaxNG. It's a bit tricky to find as most links to it
are broken by now.

Stefan