You cannot export the Excel inferred schema as a separate XML schema data file (.xsd).Īlthough there are XML schema editors and other methods for creating an XML schema file, you may not have convenient access to them or know how to use them.Īs an alternative, you can use the Excel 2003 XML Tools Add-in Version 1.1, which can create a schema file from an XML map.įor more information, see Using the Excel 2003 XML Tools Add-in Version 1.1. The first occurrence of each node contains all its possible children. There nodes don't contain any optional items. Select the Preview Data in Task Pane option from the Options button to display the first row of data as sample data in the element list, if you imported XML data associated with the XML map in the current session of Excel. When you work with imported XML data that has an inferred schema, you can also customize the XML Source task pane. Inferred schemas are also saved in the workbook. If you import XML data into a workbook without adding an XML schema, Excel will try to create a schema for you based on the tags that are defined in the XML data file. Try and use a full-featured XML Editor as schemas may not include any whitespace or linefeeds (for example the ones generated by Excel).Ĭlick 'Refresh XML Data' to verify that the schema is still valid. You can edit a schema outside of Excel by using an XML Editor. XML Schemas that are saved into a workbook are referred to as XML Maps since they are used to map an external data file to the workbook. XML Schemas can be imported and saved into workbooks to allow XML to be easily and accurately imported and exported.

When Excel imports an xml file that does not explicitely reference an XML schema Excel will automatically 'infer' one. XML Schemas that are created automatically by Excel are called Inferred Schemas You can either create and use your own XML schemas or you can let Excel create one for you automatically. It is easy to transform XML data from one format to another using an XML transform (xslt)Ī schema definition file contains schema tags that enforce rules, such as data type and validation. These terms of schemas are also called XML Structures.

A schema definition is a formal description that defines the exact structure of an XML file and includes the element names and data types.

How does excel import xml