XML Schema Complete Reference, The

18.5. Schema Object Model (SOM)

So far, this chapter has focused on the generic approach that MSXML provides for accessing XML schemas. This consists of accessing the XML schema documents directly as ordinary XML documents. In this manner, you can work with them programmatically, using the same DOM you use for any other document. This approach is limited, however, because you are working with the least common denominator. XML schemas have a higher structure that has already been defined for us, so it makes sense to use a higher level API to access them if one is available.

Beginning with version 4.0 of MSXML, this higher level API is available and is called the “Schema Object Model” (SOM). The SOM is a set of components and interfaces that represent ...