In Altova XMLSpy 2014, I have a XSD document that defines:
Is that correct? I think it should generate an error, since the abstract type is not being used as a base (by extension or restriction) for the concrete type, the abstract type (t_abs) is being used as the type of a concrete element into an instanciable concrete element (t_con).
Should XMLSpy return a warning of an abstract type being used into a concrete element?
Example:
<xs:schema xmlns:xs="http://www.w3.org/2001/XMLSchema" xmlns:vc="http://www.w3.org/2007/XMLSchema-versioning" elementFormDefault="qualified" attributeFormDefault="unqualified" vc:minVersion="1.1">
<xs:complexType name="t_abs" abstract="true">
<xs:sequence>
<xs:element name="el" type="xs:string"/>
<xs:element name="e2" type="xs:string"/>
</xs:sequence>
</xs:complexType>
<xs:complexType name="t_con">
<xs:sequence>
<xs:element name="e_t_con_1" type="xs:string"/>
<xs:element name="e_t_abs" type="t_abs"/>
<xs:element name="e_t_con_2" type="xs:string"/>
</xs:sequence>
</xs:complexType>
<xs:element name="e_con" type="t_con"/>
</xs:schema>
XMLSpy is allowed not to report the error that you expect prior to actual validation (emphasis added):
3.4.1 The Complex Type Definition Schema Component
Complex types for which {abstract} is true must not be used as the {type definition} for the ·validation· of element information items. It follows that they must not be referenced from an xsi:type (§2.6.1) attribute in an instance document. Abstract complex types can be used as {base type definition}s, or even as the {type definition}s of element declarations, provided in every case a concrete derived type definition is used for ·validation·, either via xsi:type (§2.6.1) or the operation of a substitution group.
If you go ahead and try to use your XSD for validation of a document instance,
<?xml version="1.0" encoding="utf-8"?>
<e_con>
<e_t_con_1/>
<e_t_abs>
<el/>
<e2/>
</e_t_abs>
<e_t_con_2/>
</e_con>
You will find that you receive the error you seek, such as this one produced by Xerces-J:
[Error] try2.xml:5:12: cvc-type.2: The type definition cannot be abstract for element e_t_abs.