Configuring XPath

TopLink uses XPath statements to map the attributes of a Java object to locations in an XML document. When you create an XML mapping or EIS mapping using XML records, you can specify the XPath based on any of the following:

• Name

• Position

• Path and name

Table 35-5 summarizes which mappings support this option.

Table 35-5 Mapping Support for XPath

Mapping	Using TopLink Workbench	Using Java
EIS MappingsFoot 1
EIS Direct Mapping
EIS Composite Direct Collection Mapping
EIS Composite Object MappingFoot 2
EIS Composite Collection Mapping
XML Mappings
XML Direct Mapping
XML Composite Direct Collection Mapping
XML Composite Object MappingFootref 2
XML Composite Collection Mapping
XML Any Object Mapping
XML Any Collection Mapping

^Footnote 1 When used with XML records only (see "Configuring Record Format").

^Footnote 2 Supports the self XPath (".") so that the TopLink runtime performs all read and write operations in the parent's element and not an element nested within it (see "Mappings and the jaxb:class Customization").

Before you can select an XPath for a mapping, you must associate the descriptor with a schema context (see "Configuring Schema Context for an EIS Descriptor" or "Configuring Schema Context for an XML Descriptor").

For more information, see "Mappings and XPath".

Using TopLink Workbench

Use this table to select the XPath for an XMl mapping or EIS mapping using XML records:

1. Select the mapped attribute in the Navigator. Its properties appear in the Editor.

2. If necessary, click the General tab. The General tab appears.

   Figure 35-3 General Tab, XPath Options

   
   Description of "Figure 35-3 General Tab, XPath Options"
   
   

   Figure 35-4 XPath Options for Composite Object Mappings

   
   Description of "Figure 35-4 XPath Options for Composite Object Mappings"
   
   

Click Browse and select the XPath to map to this attribute (see "Choosing the XPath").

For an EIS composite object mapping using XML records or an XML composite object mapping, you can choose one of the following:

• Specify XPath: select the XPath to map to this attribute (see "Choosing the XPath").

• Aggregate into parent element: select the self XPath (".") (see "Self XPath" ) so that the TopLink runtime performs all read and write operations in the parent's element, and not an element nested within it (see "Mappings and the jaxb:class Customization").

Choosing the XPath

From the Choose XPath dialog box, select the XPath and click OK. TopLink Workbench builds the complete XPath name.

Figure 35-5 Choose XPath Dialog Box

Description of "Figure 35-5 Choose XPath Dialog Box"