XML Format Overview

This section describes the XML format to use to define data that you want to import into Innovation Design & Decisions. You can import data either through the Data Import Manager or a web service.

See Also
Importing Data

An XML-format data definition can create and modify all data in Innovation Design & Decisions (except specifications and consolidated answers). An XSD schema file describes the specific XML format.

Innovation Design & Decisions XML data description has several specifications:

  • The Id attribute (for Bio_* elements) is the object external identifier.

    The database stores the Id. It is used to retrieve objects during the import process. Importing an element several times with the same Id updates the element (it is not duplicated or recreated), so that the previous element is overwritten with the imported one.

    Note: Each object must have a unique identifier, across all types. For example, a Bio_Product and Bio_Protocol cannot share the same Id attribute. Include the type of the object in its external Id, for example, Protocol1, Project1, Product1, and so on.

  • Some elements include references (through a related attribute or a subelement description) to other (Bio_*) elements. These references must include the external identifier of the other object.

  • You can import your data in any order.

    You can refer to elements that are not declared until later elements in the XML data file.

    Import data in this order:

    • Products/Batch-products
    • Protocols
    • Results
    • Projects
  • When an Id for a nonexistent element is referenced with no declaration in the same transaction, the missing elements are created but will remain in an “incomplete” state until they are properly created.

    These elements are not visible in Innovation Design & Decisions and, if they are not corrected, they may lead to inconsistent states in the widget.

  • Ensure that you use the appropriate role to import your data. Some of elements can only be created by a Project Administrator, and others some require Project Leader rights.