Editing XML by hand is unpleasant and error-prone: one mistyped value or lost closing tag, and you
only find out when the code that reads the file fails.
XML Form Editor opens an XML file as a form instead. The structure of the file stays fixed, and you
only change the values. It was written for the input files of IMAS codes, but it works with any XML
file that has an XSD schema. The form is built from the schema, which the file names in its root
element with xsi:noNamespaceSchemaLocation or xsi:schemaLocation.
Features
Dropdowns for enumerations, and checkboxes for booleans.
Matrices show as a grid, like a spreadsheet, with their rows and columns numbered. A matrix is an
element that the schema lets hold one repeating element of a list of numbers, one per row, such
as <row>0.0 1.0</row>. Enter and the arrow keys move between the cells. The + buttons add a row
or a column, and hovering a row or column number shows a button that removes it.
Values are checked as you type, and invalid values are never written.
Every setting shows its documentation and units from the schema.
Changed values are marked green until you save, then blue.
Sections that an enumeration such as method doesn't choose are dimmed and collapsed.
Filter the settings, and copy the path of any setting.
Settings split across files: when an element links to another XML file with href, the form
shows that file's settings in its place, so you can search and edit them all from one form. Save
saves every file you changed.
Each change edits only the text of that value, so formatting, comments and Undo keep working.
Getting started
Open an XML file and click Open Form Editor to the Side in the editor title bar, or right-click
the file in the Explorer and choose Open in Form Editor. Save with Ctrl+S.
Limitations
The form never adds or removes elements, other than the rows of a matrix, or changes which file
an element links to. To do that, edit the text: Open XML in the toolbar opens it beside the
form.
The schema must be a local file, and xs:include, xs:import and xs:redefine aren't supported.
Undo in the form undoes changes to the file you opened. Changes to a linked file are undone in
that file's text editor.
