XSD Schema

There are three XSD schema files that constitute the exchange file format standard:

  1. archimate3_Model.xsd – includes all the concepts in an ArchiMate model (elements and relationships) as well as organization of those model concepts, and properties and property definitions. In addition, this file has constructs that can be used to extend the exchange file format for a non-standard specific purpose

  2. archimate3_View.xsd – includes the concept of a generic view and viewpoint. This file must be extended to be useful. Extensions could include other artefact types besides diagrams (e.g., catalogs and matrices). This file includes Model XSD

  3. archimate3_Diagram.xsd – includes all the concepts needed to produce a diagram, which can then be exchanged through the format. This includes a graphical representation of an element and relationships as well as some other diagrammatical features. This file includes View XSD

The schema namespace for this version of the standard is:

www.opengroup.org/xsd/archimate/3.0/

The schema locations for this version of the standard are:

www.opengroup.org/xsd/archimate/3.1/archimate3_Model.xsd

www.opengroup.org/xsd/archimate/3.1/archimate3_View.xsd

www.opengroup.org/xsd/archimate/3.1/archimate3_Diagram.xsd

It is possible to create an XML document that contains no visual information and to reference the first of the XSD schema files (archimate3_Model.xsd) but typically the diagram schema XSD is referenced as this contains references to the other two.

Basic XML Construction

A basic XML document must contain a root model tag, constructed as follows:

<model xmlns="http://www.opengroup.org/xsd/archimate/3.0/" (1)
    xmlns:xsi="http://www.w3.org/2001/XMLSchema-instance" (2)
    xsi:schemaLocation="http://www.opengroup.org/xsd/archimate/3.0/ http://www.opengroup.org/xsd/archimate/3.1/archimate3_Diagram.xsd" (3)
    identifier="id-1d0ef6fe-f1de-40cc-8509-4b3b641f2ac9"> (4)
    <name xml:lang="en">Test Model</name> (5)
</model>
1 ArchiMate Exchange File Format Namespace declaration (mandatory).
2 Schema declaration (mandatory).
3 Schema location consisting of ArchiMate Exchange File Format Namespace, one or more spaces, online schema location (mandatory).
4 Unique identifier of the model (mandatory).
5 Name of the model (mandatory).

If Dublin Core Metadata is included in the XML document, its schema declaration must also be included in the root element:

<model xmlns="http://www.opengroup.org/xsd/archimate/3.0/"
    xmlns:xsi="http://www.w3.org/2001/XMLSchema-instance"
    xmlns:dc="http://purl.org/dc/elements/1.1/" (1)
    xsi:schemaLocation="http://www.opengroup.org/xsd/archimate/3.0/ http://www.opengroup.org/xsd/archimate/3.1/archimate3_Diagram.xsd
    http://purl.org/dc/elements/1.1/ http://www.opengroup.org/xsd/archimate/3.1/dc.xsd" (2)
    identifier="id-1d0ef6fe-f1de-40cc-8509-4b3b641f2ac9">
    <name xml:lang="en">Test Model</name>
</model>
1 Dublin Core prefix Namespace declaration.
2 Dublin Core schema location consisting of Dublin Core Namespace, one or more spaces, online schema location.