Validating XML with XSDs … but still allow extensibility

Question

Maybe it\'s me, but it appears that if you have an XSD

Answer 1

After reading of the answer of marc_s and your discussion in comments I decide to add a little.

It seems to me there are no perfect solution of your problem Chad. There are some approaches how to implement extensible content model in XSD, but all me known implementation have some restrictions. Because you didn't write about the environment where you plan to use extensible XSD I can you only recommend some links which probably will help you to choose the way which can be implemented in your environment:

1. http://www.xfront.com/ExtensibleContentModels.html (or http://www.xfront.com/ExtensibleContentModels.pdf) and http://www.xfront.com/VariableContentContainers.html
2. http://www.xml.com/lpt/a/993 (or http://www.xml.com/pub/a/2002/07/03/schema_design.html)
3. http://msdn.microsoft.com/en-us/library/ms950793.aspx