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Java XML Beans:

Apache framework to generate an XML processing library from an XSD schema

Tutorial on parsing an XML file using XML Beans.

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Apache XML Beans Description:

Apache XML Beans is a set of tools and class libraries used to generate a JAR library specifically for an XML schema as defined by an XSD file.

The generated library can be used for XML parsing or XML generation conforming to a specified XSD schema.

JAXB and XML Beans are the two prominent XML parsing and generation frameworks.

  • XML Beans: supports the entire XSD/XML standard. Although it loads the entire document, XML Beans can also parse only the elements and attributes you are looking for.
  • JAXB: loads XML file data into a Java class generated by JAXB as defined by the XSD schema. If the final destination of the data is a class of another definition, the data will have to pass through this intermediate JAXB class.
Both XML Beans and JAXB are reasonably fast.

This tutorial will cover the use of XML Beans for parsing an XML file.

XML Beans Java parsing library generation process

XML Beans Installation:

Download latest binaries from http://xmlbeans.apache.org/

Install: 
cd /opt
tar xzf ~/Downloads/xmlbeans-2.5.0.tgz

Add to PATH and CLASSPATH:
File: ~/.bashrc 
#
# Apache XMLBeans
#
if [ -d /opt/xmlbeans-2.5.0 ]
then
  PATH=$PATH:/opt/xmlbeans-2.5.0/bin
  export CLASSPATH=$CLASSPATH:/opt/xmlbeans-2.5.0/lib/xbean.jar
fi

XML Beans and Java programming require the installation of Java. See our YoLinux Java Tutorial.

Generate a JAR library using XML Beans:

Define an XML schema file (XSD) using your favorite XSD/XML editor:

XML Schema File: corporation.xsd 
<?xml version="1.0" encoding="UTF-8"?>
<xs:schema xmlns:xs="http://www.w3.org/2001/XMLSchema" elementFormDefault="qualified" attributeFormDefault="unqualified">
  <xs:element name="root">
    <xs:complexType>
      <xs:sequence>
        <xs:element name="Corporation">
            <xs:complexType>
              <xs:sequence>
                <xs:element name="Name" type="xs:string"/>
                <xs:element name="Phone" type="xs:string"/>
                <xs:element name="Fax" type="xs:string"/>
                <xs:element name="Address" type="xs:string"/>
              </xs:sequence>
            </xs:complexType>
        </xs:element>
        <xs:element name="People">
          <xs:complexType>
            <xs:sequence>
              <xs:element name="Employee" maxOccurs="unbounded">
                <xs:complexType>
                  <xs:sequence>
                    <xs:element name="Name"      type="xs:string"/>
                    <xs:choice>
                      <xs:element name="US-W2">
                        <xs:complexType mixed="true">
                          <xs:sequence>
                            <xs:element name="EmpNumber" type="xs:int"/>
                            <xs:element name="Manager"   type="xs:string"/>
                            <xs:element name="YearStart" type="xs:string"/>
                          </xs:sequence>
                        </xs:complexType>
                      </xs:element>
                      <xs:element name="US-1099">
                        <xs:complexType mixed="true">
                          <xs:sequence>
                            <xs:element name="SsnNumber"    type="xs:string"/>
                            <xs:element name="Phone"        type="xs:string" default="1-800-555-1212"/>
                            <xs:element name="CorpName"     type="xs:string"/>
                            <xs:element name="CorpAddress"  type="xs:string"/>
                            <xs:element name="Relationship" type="ERelation"/>
                          </xs:sequence>
                        </xs:complexType>
                      </xs:element>
                    </xs:choice>
                    <xs:element name="Data">
                      <xs:annotation>
                        <xs:documentation>Data: personel data.</xs:documentation>
                      </xs:annotation>
                      <xs:complexType mixed="false">
                        <xs:sequence>
                          <xs:element name="WorkPhone" type="xs:string" default="1-800-555-1212"/>
                          <xs:element name="CellPhone" type="xs:string" default="1-800-555-1212"/> 
                          <xs:element name="Address" type="xs:string" default="NULL"/>
                        </xs:sequence>
                      </xs:complexType>
                    </xs:element>
                  </xs:sequence>
                  <xs:attribute name="TaxStatus" type="ETaxStatus" use="required"/>
                  <xs:attribute name="Gender" type="EGender" use="required"/>
                  <xs:attribute name="Desc" type="ELocation" use="required"/>
                </xs:complexType>
              </xs:element>
            </xs:sequence>
          </xs:complexType>
        </xs:element>
      </xs:sequence>
    </xs:complexType>
  </xs:element>
  <xs:simpleType name="EGender">
    <xs:restriction base="xs:string">
      <xs:enumeration value="Male"/>
      <xs:enumeration value="Female"/>
    </xs:restriction>
  </xs:simpleType>
  <xs:simpleType name="ELocation">
    <xs:restriction base="xs:string">
      <xs:enumeration value="OnSite"/>
      <xs:enumeration value="OffSite"/>
    </xs:restriction>
  </xs:simpleType>
  <xs:simpleType name="ETaxStatus">
    <xs:restriction base="xs:string">
      <xs:enumeration value="US-W2"/>
      <xs:enumeration value="US-1099"/>
    </xs:restriction>
  </xs:simpleType>
  <xs:simpleType name="ERelation">
    <xs:restriction base="xs:string">
      <xs:enumeration value="CorpToCorp"/>
      <xs:enumeration value="CorpToIndividual"/>
    </xs:restriction>
  </xs:simpleType>
</xs:schema>
XSD Notes:
  • XSD requires that element attributes are defined at the end of the element definition.
  • Multiple occurances of an element type is permitted when the following is specified:
    • element attribute maxOccurs="unbounded" is specified. or maxOccurs="10" is specified as a specific value greater than one.
    • element attribute minOccurs="3" is specified as a value greater than one.
    XML Beans will generate a method to return an array to handle multiple occurances.
  • Indicate that any one of the elements may be specified: <xs:choice>
  • Indicate that the elements must be specified in the order given: <xs:sequence>
Generate a Java JAR library file from the XSD: scomp -out corporation.jar corporation.xsd

This will generate the file corporation.jar

Most Java IDE's support the interrogation and use of classes and methods within the JAR file for use by the programmer. You can also employ the following script to view the classes and class methods available:
File: listmeth 
#!/bin/bash
echo "List classes and methods available in the JAR file: $1"
# Loop through classes
for class in $(jar -tf $1 | grep '.class'); do
   # Replace "/" with "." to derive class name from path
   class=${class//\//.};
   # javap - class file disassembler
   javap -classpath $1 ${class//.class/};
done

Use: listmeth corporation.jar 
List classes and methods available in the JAR file: corporation.jar
public final class noNamespace.ETaxStatus$Factory {
  public static noNamespace.ETaxStatus newValue(java.lang.Object);
  public static noNamespace.ETaxStatus newInstance();
  public static noNamespace.ETaxStatus newInstance(org.apache.xmlbeans.XmlOptions);
  public static noNamespace.ETaxStatus parse(java.lang.String) throws org.apache.xmlbeans.XmlException;
  public static noNamespace.ETaxStatus parse(java.lang.String, org.apache.xmlbeans.XmlOptions) ...

...
...

Apache XML Beans Example:

File: TestXmlBeans.java 

import java.io.File;
import java.util.ArrayList;

import noNamespace.RootDocument;
import noNamespace.RootDocument.Root;
import noNamespace.RootDocument.Root.People.Employee;
import noNamespace.RootDocument.Root.People.Employee.Data;

import org.apache.xmlbeans.XmlException;
import org.apache.xmlbeans.XmlObject;
import org.apache.xmlbeans.XmlOptions;

public class TestXmlBeans
{
  static public void main (String[] args) throws XmlException
  {
    String fileName = "CorporationMegaX.xml";

    try
    {
        readFile(fileName);
    }
    catch (Exception e)
    {
        System.out.println("Error! Exception caught");
        e.printStackTrace();
    }
  }

  public static void readFile(String fileName) throws XmlException
  {
    try
    {
        java.io.File inputXMLFile = new java.io.File(fileName);
        RootDocument rootDocument = RootDocument.Factory.parse(inputXMLFile);

        Root root = rootDocument.getRoot();
        System.out.println("Corporation: " + root.getCorporation().getName());

        Employee[] employee = root.getPeople().getEmployeeArray();

        System.out.println("There are " + employee.length + " employees.");

        for (int pp = 0; pp < employee.length; pp++)
        {
            System.out.println("Employee name: " + employee[pp].getName());
            System.out.println("    Gender: "    + employee[pp].getGender().toString());
            System.out.println("    Location: "  + employee[pp].getDesc().toString());
            System.out.println("    Cell phone: "  + employee[pp].getData().getCellPhone());

            String employeeTaxStatus = employee[pp].getTaxStatus().toString();
            if(employeeTaxStatus.equalsIgnoreCase("US-W2"))
            {
                System.out.println("    Tax status: W2");
                System.out.println("        Employee number: "     + employee[pp].getUSW2().getEmpNumber());
                System.out.println("        Employee manager: "    + employee[pp].getUSW2().getManager());
                System.out.println("        Employee start year: " + employee[pp].getUSW2().getYearStart());
            }
            else if(employeeTaxStatus.equalsIgnoreCase("US-1099"))
            {
                System.out.println("    Tax status: 1099");
                System.out.println("        SSN number: "        + employee[pp].getUS1099().getSsnNumber());
                System.out.println("        Phone number: "      + employee[pp].getUS1099().getPhone());
                System.out.println("        Corp name: "         + employee[pp].getUS1099().getCorpName());
                System.out.println("        Corp address: "      + employee[pp].getUS1099().getCorpAddress());
                System.out.println("        Corp relationship: " + employee[pp].getUS1099().getRelationship().toString());
            }
            else
            {
                System.out.println("No tax status specified");
            }
        }
    }
    catch (Exception e)
    {
        System.out.println("Error! Exception caught");
        e.printStackTrace();
    }
  }
}

XML data file: CorporationMegaX.xml 

<?xml version="1.0" encoding="UTF-8"?>
<root xmlns:xsi="http://www.w3.org/2001/XMLSchema-instance" xsi:noNamespaceSchemaLocation="corporation.xsd">
    <Corporation>
        <Name>Corporation MegaX</Name>
        <Phone>1-800-555-1212</Phone>
        <Fax>1-877-555-1212</Fax>
        <Address>512 Megacorp Way, Gotham City</Address>
    </Corporation>
    <People>
        <!-- The Boss -->
        <Employee TaxStatus="US-W2" Gender="Male" Desc="OnSite">
            <Name>Mr Grand Kahuna</Name>
            <US-W2>
                <EmpNumber>1</EmpNumber>
                <Manager>None</Manager>
                <YearStart>1998</YearStart>
            </US-W2>
            <Data>
                <WorkPhone>1-800-555-1213</WorkPhone>
                <CellPhone>1-800-555-1214</CellPhone>
                <Address>100 Cherry Hill Lane, Gotham City</Address>
            </Data>
        </Employee>
        <!-- The Consultant -->
        <Employee TaxStatus="US-1099" Gender="Male" Desc="OnSite">
            <Name>Mr Special Tee</Name>
            <US-1099>
                <SsnNumber>123-45-6788</SsnNumber>
                <Phone>1-817-555-1212</Phone>
                <CorpName>ABC Consulting</CorpName>
                <CorpAddress>3 Mockingbird Lane, Smallville AK</CorpAddress>
                <Relationship>CorpToIndividual</Relationship>
            </US-1099>
            <Data>
                <WorkPhone>1-800-555-1215</WorkPhone>
                <CellPhone>1-800-555-1216</CellPhone>
                <Address>200 Lookout Hill, Gotham City</Address>
            </Data>
        </Employee>
        <!-- The Secratary -->
        <Employee TaxStatus="US-W2" Gender="Female" Desc="OnSite">
            <Name>Mrs Jenny Reliable</Name>
            <US-W2>
                <EmpNumber>2</EmpNumber>
                <Manager>Mr Grand Kahuna</Manager>
                <YearStart>1999</YearStart>
            </US-W2>
            <Data>
                <WorkPhone>1-800-555-1217</WorkPhone>
                <CellPhone>1-800-555-1218</CellPhone>
                <Address>300 Riverside View, Gotham City</Address>
            </Data>
        </Employee>
    </People>
</root>

Ant build script: build.xml 


<project name="IO" default="compile" basedir=".">
        <description>Builds, tests, and runs the project Test.</description>
        <property name="build.dir" value="./" />
        <taskdef name="xmlbean" classname="org.apache.xmlbeans.impl.tool.XMLBean" classpath="/opt/xmlbeans-2.5.0/lib/xbean.jar" />
        <path id="classpath">
            <pathelement location="/usr/java/latest/lib/tools.jar" />
            <pathelement location="/opt/xmlbeans-2.5.0/lib/xbean.jar" />
            <pathelement location="./corporation.jar" />
        </path>
        <target name="clean" description="Remove .class files">
            <delete includeEmptyDirs="true" failonerror="false">
                <fileset dir="${build.dir}">
                    <include name="**/*.class" />
                </fileset>
            </delete>
        </target>
        <target name="compile">
            <javac srcdir="./" destdir="./" debug="true" includeAntRuntime="false">
                <classpath refid="classpath" />
                <include name="**/*.java" />
            </javac>
        </target>
        <target name="run" depends="compile">
            <java classname="TestXmlBeans" failonerror="true" fork="true">
                <classpath>
                    <path refid="classpath" />
                    <path location="./"/>
                </classpath>
            </java>
        </target>
</project>

Compile: ant compile 

[user1@tux XMLBeans]$ ant compile
Buildfile: /home/user1/Desktop/XMLBeans/build.xml

compile:
    [javac] Compiling 1 source file to /home/user1/Desktop/XMLBeans

BUILD SUCCESSFUL
Total time: 0 seconds

Run: ant run 

[user1@tux XMLBeans]$ ant run
Buildfile: /home/user1/XMLBeans/build.xml

compile:

run:
     [java] Corporation: Corporation MegaX
     [java] There are 3 employees.
     [java] Employee name: Mr Grand Kahuna
     [java]     Gender: Male
     [java]     Location: OnSite
     [java]     Cell phone: 1-800-555-1214
     [java]     Tax status: W2
     [java]         Employee number: 1
     [java]         Employee manager: None
     [java]         Employee start year: 1998
     [java] Employee name: Mr Special Tee
     [java]     Gender: Male
     [java]     Location: OnSite
     [java]     Cell phone: 1-800-555-1216
     [java]     Tax status: 1099
     [java]         SSN number: 123-45-6788
     [java]         Phone number: 1-817-555-1212
     [java]         Corp name: ABC Consulting
     [java]         Corp address: 3 Mockingbird Lane, Smallville AK
     [java]         Corp relationship: CorpToIndividual
     [java] Employee name: Mrs Jenny Reliable
     [java]     Gender: Female
     [java]     Location: OnSite
     [java]     Cell phone: 1-800-555-1218
     [java]     Tax status: W2
     [java]         Employee number: 2
     [java]         Employee manager: Mr Grand Kahuna
     [java]         Employee start year: 1999

BUILD SUCCESSFUL
Total time: 1 second

Links:

Books:

"Core Java 2, Volume 1: Fundamentals "
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"Core Java 2: Volume 2 Advanced Features "
by Cay S. Horstmann, Gary Cornell
ISBN # 0132354799, Prentice Hall PTR 8th edition

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"Core Java Server Faces"
by David Geary, Cay S. Horstmann
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"JSP, Servlets, and MySQL"
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ISBN # 0764547879, Hungry Minds, Inc

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