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[xml] Invalid Pattern

I've tested the pattern epxression in QuickREX for eclipse and it stated that the pattern is correct for American and Canadian Postal Code

Code:

<xsd:simpleType name="PostalFormat">

        <xsd:restriction base="xsd:string">

                <xsd:pattern value="(\d{5})(-\d{4})?"/>

                <xsd:pattern value="([ABCEGHJKLMNPRSTVXY]\d[A-Z](( )*|-)/?\d[A-Z]\d)$"/>

        </xsd:restriction>

</xsd:simpleType>



...



<xsd:element name="postal-code" type="PostalFormat"/>

However, when I use "T0J 1X0", "T0J1X0" "T0J-1X0" without the quotes in the xml document, the parser stated that the element wasn't following the pattern. When I changed the code to this instead:

Code:

<xsd:simpleType name="PostalFormat">

        <xsd:restriction base="xsd:string">

                <xsd:pattern value="(\d{5})(-\d{4})?|([ABCEGHJKLMNPRSTVXY]\d[A-Z]( |-)?\d[A-Z]\d)$"/>

        </xsd:restriction>

</xsd:simpleType>

The input strings that I used above was accepted. Any idea why its not working for the first set of code? I know that multiple definition of patterns are accepted in xml schema

i think its one pattern per element.

so, its looking for a pattern that wholly fits the first pattern or wholly fits the second, not a combination of both. but when you combine the two patterns into one in the second snippet, it is successful.

i'm not an xml expert, though, could be wrong.

Well I've looked up multiple patterns for a single element and found that it was allowed, I even asked my instructor about that. The source code that I posted is very similar to another one on a different forum where the poster said it works.

Quote:

Originally Posted by feelgood

could it be that its trying to apply both patterns to the string individually?

No, the pattern is acceptable for US postal code but when it comes to Canadian postal code, the reader it goes nuts on it