A file format is a set of properties that describes the metadata structure of a flat data file. File formats allow the software to access flat data files on an SAP Data Services Agent host system, and read from or write to those files while the software executes a task or process.
Within the software, file formats are organized in a specialized type of datastore called a file format group. In each file format group, you can define any number of individual file formats. Each file format may describe a specific file, or be a generic description that can be used for multiple data files.
When you create a file format, you can choose to base the properties on an existing database table or from scratch. After you create a file format, you can modify its properties.
An XML template is a special type of file format that you can use to write structured, hierarchical data to an XML file on the SAP Data Services Agent host system.
When you want to write to an XML file, you must use a Target XML Map transform as the final step in your data flow. Unlike other file formats, XML templates do not have any column or option definitions. Instead, the hierarchical structure is inherited from the output schema of the Target XML Map transform.
An XSD Schema XML file is another special type of file format that you can use to read and write structured, hierarchical data from and to an XML file on the SAP Data Services Agent host system.
You can import XSD metadata document files, and use this XSD as definition for your XML source and target files, in jobs. XML documents are hierarchical. Their valid structure is stored in a file format group and can be mixed with flat files (XML template is already there).