Modeling Binary Data (CCTS/Freely-Modeled)

Use

Data modeling using XML schema is text-based. Binary data in an XML schema definition can therefore only be coded with a limited number of characters. XML schema provides the built-in data type xsd:base64Binary for this. This XSD type works with 65 different characters and some white space characters for the text-based coding of binary data (more information see the interne site at the address http://www.w3.org/TR/xmlschema-2/#base64BinaryInformation published on non-SAP site). In the XML data structure, the binary data can be included in this coding as content of xsd:base64Binary type elements.

The data of a binary data format in the application coding must be converted at runtime into the xsd:base64Binary format before it can be assigned to a xsd:base64Binary type element. In this way you can, for example, model binary data for a Web service communication as part of the later message payload.

Procedure

Modeling Binary Data in Core Data Types

There are some core date type whose primary components reference xsd:base64Binary:

  • BinaryObject

  • Graphic

  • Picture

  • Sound

  • Video

In this way you can classify the binary data type more precisely.

More information: Developing Core Data Types

Modeling Binary Data in Freely-Modeled Data Types

  1. Create a simple xsd:base64Binary type data type.

    More information: Defining a Simple Data Type (Freely-Modeled)

  2. Reference elements of a complex data type to the data type from the last step.

    More information: Defining a Complex Data Type (Freely-Modeled)