Validation of XML data files

• US 7,296,017 B2
• Filed: 11/25/2003
• Issued: 11/13/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 03/28/2003
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Microsoft Technology Licensing LLC (Microsoft Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Microsoft Corporation
• Inventors: Narendran, Arungundram, Bath, Kamaljit S., Levenkov, Alexei, Shur, Andrey, Sikchi, Prakash, Larcheveque, Jean-Marie H., Selim, Nora S., Catorcini, Alessandro, Ardeleanu, Adriana
• Primary Examiner(s): Wong; Don
• Assistant Examiner(s): DANG, THANH HA T
• Application Number:
  US10/723,730
• Publication Number:
  US 20040226002A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,449 Days
• Field of Search: 707/102, 707/6, 707/3, 707/103.Y
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/84 Mapping; Conversion
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 40/143 Markup, e.g. Standard Generalized Markup Language [SGML] or Document Type Definition [DTD]
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 40/174 Form filling; Merging
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 40/221 Parsing markup language streams streaming G06F40/149
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 40/04 Trading; Exchange, e.g. stocks, commodities, derivatives or currency exchange
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 707/99933 Query processing, i.e. searching
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 707/99936 Pattern matching access
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 707/99944 Object-oriented database structure

Abstract

XML elements and related processes for validation of XML data files is disclosed. These elements are used to specify validation rules that are used by a real-time validation tool to validate data in a node of an XML data file. These elements also are used to specify error messages to be displayed when a node is found to be invalid. Further, they are used to associate executable code with a node that can be executed when the node is modified.

Claims

1. One or more computer-readable storage media comprising computer-executable instructions that perform the following when executed by a computer:

read an extensible markup language (XML) element containing a first attribute, a second attribute, and a third attribute, wherein the first attribute indicates a match pattern;

parse the first attribute into a first XPath expression;

find nodes in an XML data file that match the match pattern by evaluating the nodes of the XML data file against the first XPath expression;

parse the second attribute into a second XPath expression, wherein the second attribute specifies an expression context relative to each of the matching nodes;

obtain a set of nodes from the matching nodes that define the expression context for each of the matching nodes by evaluating the matching nodes against the second XPath expression;

parse the third attribute into a third XPath expression, wherein the third attribute specifies a Boolean expression condition;

determine if each node of the set of nodes violates the third XPath expression by evaluating each node of the set of nodes against the third XPath expression;

associate each node of the set of nodes that violates the third XPath expression with an error message; and

display the error message for each node associated with the error message.

2. One or more computer-readable storage media comprising computer-executable instructions that perform the following when executed by a computer:

read a first extensible markup language (XML) element containing a first attribute that indicates a match pattern;

parse the first attribute into an XPath expression;

find one or more nodes in an XML data file that match the match pattern by evaluating the nodes of the XML data file against the XPath expression;

determine if one or more of the matching nodes violate a schema associated with the XML data file;

read a second XML element associated with the first XML element, the second XML element containing an error message;

associate the error message with each of the matching nodes that violate the schema; and

display the error message for each of the matching nodes associated with the error message.

3. One or more computer-readable storage media comprising computer-executable instructions that perform the following when executed by a computer:

read an extensible markup language (XML) element containing a first attribute and a second attribute, wherein the first attribute indicates a match pattern;

parse the first attribute into an XPath expression;

parse the second attribute into a handler-object name;

create a handler object referencing executable code and having the handler-object name;

find nodes in an XML data file that match the match pattern by evaluating the nodes of the XML data file against the XPath expression;

associate the found nodes with the handler-object name; and

execute, with aid from the handler-object name, the executable code referenced by the handler object when one of the found nodes is modified, wherein the execution of the executable code indicates to a user whether or not the modification to the found node violates a validation rule.

4. The computer-readable media of claim 3, wherein the execution of the executable code accepts or rejects the modification to the found node.

5. The computer-readable media of claim 3, wherein the execution of the executable code modifies other nodes of the XML data file.

6. The computer-readable media of claim 3, wherein the execution of the executable code modifies files associated with the XML data file.

7. The computer-readable media of claim 3, wherein the modification includes the found node being deleted from the XML data file.

8. The computer-readable media of claim 3, further comprising:

evaluate a new node added to the XML data file against the XPath expression;

associate the new node with the handler-object name if the new node matches the match pattern; and

execute, with aid from the handler-object name, the executable code referenced by the handler object.