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9 Using XForms with Other Document Types


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This chapter is normative.

XForms have been designed for use within other XML vocabularies, in particular XHTML. This chapter discusses some of the high-level features of XForms that allow it to be used with other document types.

9.1 The XForms Namespace

The XForms namespace has the URI: http://www.w3.org/2001/02/xforms. Future revisions are expected to use a different identifier. This document uses the convention of an xform: prefix to represent elements and attributes that are part of the XForms Namespace.

XForms Processors must use the XML namespaces mechanism [XML Names] to recognize elements and attributes from this namespace.

9.2 The <xform> Element

The <xform> element is used as a container for other XForms elements, and can serve as the root element of a standalone document or be embedded in other document types such as XHTML. A single containing document may contain any number of <xform> elements.

XML Representation :  <xform> 
<xform
  xmlns = namespace-identifier
  id = xsd:ID
>
  <!-- Content: (submit | bind)*, model, instance -->
</xform>

Attribute Definitions:

xmlns = namespace-identifier
Optional standard XML attribute for identifying an XML namespace. It is frequently useful to include this standard attribute at this point.
id = xsd:ID
Optional unique identifier used to refer to this particular <xform> element.

For example:

<xform xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2001/02/xforms" id="Person">
   <model href="Schema-Questionnaire.xform" />
   <instance href="URL-to-retrieve-defaults" /> 
   ...
</xform>

9.2.1 The <model> Element

The <model> element is used to define the XForms Model. The content of the XForms Model may be defined inline or obtained from a external URI.

Editor's Note: The Working Group is actively investigating the potential of using XLink simple links within XForms.

XML Representation :  <model> 
<model
  id = xsd:ID
  href = xsd:uriReference
>
  <!-- Content: (xsd:schema | simple) -->
</model>

Attribute Definitions:

id = xsd:ID
Optional unique identifier.
href = xsd:uriReference
Optional link to an externally defined XForms Model.

The content of the <model> element is restricted to either XML Schema content, or XForms simple syntax. The content of <simple> is defined in the XForms Model chapter.

Editor's Note: We still need to define behavior if both an inline XForms Model and an external XForms Model are used together.

9.2.2 The <instance> Element

The <instance> element is used to define initial instance data. The instance data may be defined inline or obtained from a external URI.

XML Representation :  <instance> 
<instance
  id = xsd:ID
  href = xsd:uriReference
>
  <!-- Content: (##other) -->
</instance>

Attribute Definitions:

id = xsd:ID
Optional unique identifier.
href = xsd:uriReference
Optional link to externally defined instance data.

The content of the <instance> element is arbitrary XML in any namespace other than the XForms namespace. Authors must ensure that proper namespace declarations are used for content within the <instance> element.

[Editor's Feedback Request 9.2.2.schemalocation: Should a schemaLocation attribute, linking the instance data with a schema definition, be present here?]

9.2.3 SubmitInfo

The <submitInfo> element provides information on how and where to submit the instance data.

XML Representation :  <submit> 
<submitInfo
  id = xsd:ID
  target = xsd:uriReference
  method = xsd:string
>
  <!-- Content: (##empty) -->
</submitInfo>

Attribute Definitions:

id = xsd:ID
Optional unique identifier.
href = xsd:uriReference
Required destination for submitted instance data.
method = xsd:string
Optional indicator to provide details on the submit protocol. With HTTP, the default is "POST".

9.2.4 Bind

The <bind> element represents a connection between the different parts of XForms.

XML Representation :  <bind> 
<bind
  id = xsd:ID
  ref = XForms binding expression
>
  <!-- Content: (##empty) -->
</bind>

Attribute Definitions:

id = xsd:ID
Required unique identifier.
ref = XForms binding expression
A link to an externally defined XForms Model.

Additional details are found in the Binding chapter.

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