Explicit Data Set - specific data model

The Explicit Data Set is an XML data structure used to describe entities, attributes and relationships. The Specific Data Model uses a different XML schema for every rulebase, defining specific XML elements for entities attributes and relationships.

In the example below, the element global-instance defines all of the data to be passed into the rulebase session. The session data contains two lists describing three different types of entities: "household", "household_member” and "electricity_provider". Each entity is identified by a unique id "the_household", "fred", "AGL". The attributes, child entities and relationships set on the entity instance are identified by uniquely named element based on the public name of the attribute/entity/relationship. The way in which entities are nested indicates the containment model of the rulebase: the “household_member” “fred” is declared as a child of the “household” “the_household”, where as the “electricity_provider” “AGL” is declared as a child of the global entity instance and it’s association with the “household” is specified via the relationship specified on the latter entity instance.

The XML elements are specifically named for the entities' attributes, and relationships defined in the rulebase. So there is a household element which has elements defining the household entity's attributes and relationships. There is a list-household_member element which can contain more than one household_member entity.

<typ:global-instance>
    <typ:list-household>
        <typ:household id="the_household">
            <typ:household_location>
                <typ:text-val>Alabama</typ:text-val>
            </typ:household_location>
            <typ:household_shelter_situation>
                <typ:text-val>Housing Association</typ:text-val>
            </typ:household_shelter_situation>
            <typ:household_disabled_members>
                <typ:boolean-val>true</typ:boolean-val>
            </typ:household_disabled_members>
        <typ:relationships>
            <typ:electricity_provider>
                <typ:target instance-id="AGL"/>
            </typ:electricity_provider>
        </typ:relationships>
        <typ:list-household_member>
                <typ:household_member id="fred">
                ...
            </typ:household_member>
        </typ:list-household_member>
    </typ:household>
    </typ:list-household>
    <typ:list-electricity_provider>
        <typ:electricity_provider id="AGL">
            ...
        </typ:electricity_provider>
    </typ:list-electricity_provider>
</typ:global-instance>