To create a schema (XSD) from an XML file, you can use a command line tool that comes with Visual Studio called xsd.exe (located in Install DirectoryMicrosoft Visual Studio 8SDKv2.0Bin). If you’re running Visual Studio 2008, your path will be different.
Usage:
xsd.exe -
Utility to generate schema or class files from given source.
xsd.exe <schema>.xsd /classes|dataset [/e:] [/l:] [/n:] [/o:] [/s] [/uri:]
xsd.exe <assembly>.dll|.exe [/outputdir:] [/type: [...]]
xsd.exe <instance>.xml [/outputdir:]
xsd.exe <schema>.xdr [/outputdir:]
Sample invocation:
C:temp>xsd invoice.xml
Microsoft (R) Xml Schemas/DataTypes support utility
[Microsoft (R) .NET Framework, Version 2.0.50727.42]
Copyright (C) Microsoft Corporation. All rights reserved.
Writing file 'C:tempinvoice.xsd'.
C:temp>
The full options are as follows:
C:temp>xsd
Microsoft (R) Xml Schemas/DataTypes support utility
[Microsoft (R) .NET Framework, Version 2.0.50727.42]
Copyright (C) Microsoft Corporation. All rights reserved.
xsd.exe -
Utility to generate schema or class files from given source.
xsd.exe <schema>.xsd /classes|dataset [/e:] [/l:] [/n:] [/o:] [/s] [/uri:]
xsd.exe <assembly>.dll|.exe [/outputdir:] [/type: [...]]
xsd.exe <instance>.xml [/outputdir:]
xsd.exe <schema>.xdr [/outputdir:]
- OPTIONS -
/classes
Generate classes for this schema. Short form is '/c'.
/dataset
Generate sub-classed DataSet for this schema. Short form is '/d'.
/element:<element>
Element from schema to process. Short form is '/e:'.
/fields
Generate fields instead of properties. Short form is '/f'.
/order
Generate explicit order identifiers on all particle members.
/enableDataBinding
Implement INotifyPropertyChanged interface on all generated types
to enable data binding. Short form is '/edb'.
/language:<language>
The language to use for the generated code. Choose from 'CS', 'VB', 'JS',
'VJS', 'CPP' or provide a fully-qualified name for a class implementing
System.CodeDom.Compiler.CodeDomProvider. The default language
is 'CS' (CSharp). Short form is '/l:'.
/namespace:<namespace>
The namespace for generated class files. The default namespace
is the global namespace. Short form is '/n:'.
/nologo
Suppresses the banner.
/out:<directoryName>
The output directory to create files in. The default
is the current directory. Short form is '/o:'.
/type:<type>
Type from assembly to generate schema for. Multiple types may be provided.
If no types are provided, then schemas for all types in an assembly
are generated. Short form is '/t:'.
/uri:<uri>
Uri of elements from schema to process. Short form is '/u:'.
- ADVANCED -
/parameters:<file>
Read command-line options from the specified xml file. Short form is '/p:'.
- ARGUMENTS -
<schema>.xsd Name of a schema containing elements to import.
<assembly>.dll|exe Name of an assembly containing types to generate schema for.
<instance>.xml Name of an xml file to infer xsd schema from.
<schema>.xdr Name of an xdr schema to convert to xsd.
Multiple file arguments of the same type may be provided.
C:temp>