Abstract
In this paper we introduce a novel approach to conceptual modeling for XML schemas. Compared to other approaches, it allows for modeling of a whole family of XML schemas related to a particular application domain.
It is integrated in a well-established way of software-engineering, namely Model-Driven Development (MDD). It allows software-engineers to naturally model their application domain using a conceptual schema at the platform-independent level of the MDD hierarchy.
From there they can design the desired XML schemas in a form of conceptual schemas at the platform-specific level of MDD hierarchy. Schemas at the platform-specific level are then automatically translated to particular XML schemas.
Beside this forward-engineering direction, reverse-engineering direction integrating existing XML schemas into the MDD hierarchy is supported as well.