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Use JAXB xjc tooling to generate JAXB classes from an XML schema file

Use JAXB xjc tooling to compile an XML schema file into fully annotated Java classes.

Develop or obtain an XML schema file.

Use JAXB APIs and tools to establish mappings between an XML schema and Java classes. XML schemas describe the data elements and relationships in an XML document. After a data mapping or binding exists, we can convert XML documents to and from Java objects. We can now access data stored in an XML document without the need to understand the data structure.

To develop web services using a top-down development approach starting with an existing WSDL file, use the wsimport tool to generate the artifacts for the JAX-WS applications when starting with a WSDL file. After the Java artifacts for the application are generated, we can generate fully annotated Java classes from an XML schema file using the JAXB schema compiler, xjc command-line tool. The resulting annotated Java classes contain all the necessary information that the JAXB runtime requires to parse the XML for marshaling and unmarshaling. We can use the resulting JAXB classes within JAX-WS applications or other Java applications for processing XML data.

Best practice: WebSphere Application Server provides JAX-WS and JAXB tooling. The wsimport, wsgen, schemagen and xjc command-line tools are located in the app_server_root\bin\ directory in full profile. The wsimport and wsgen commands are located in the app_server_root\jaxws\bin\ directory in Liberty profile. The xjc and schemagen commands are located in the app_server_root\jaxb\bin\ directory in Liberty profile. Similar tooling is provided by the Java SE Development Kit (JDK) 6. On some occasions, the artifacts generated by both the tooling provided by WebSphere Application Server and the JDK support the same levels of the specifications. In general, the artifacts generated by the JDK tools are portable across other compliant runtime environments. However, it is a best practice to use the tools provided with this product to achieve seamless integration within the WAS environment and to take advantage of the features that may be only supported in WebSphere Application Server. To take advantage of JAX-WS and JAXB V2.2 tooling, use the tools provided with the application server that are located in the app_server_root\bin\ directory.bprac

Supported configurations: This product supports the JAXB 2.2 specification. JAX-WS 2.2 requires JAXB 2.2 for data binding..

In addition to using the xjc tool from the command-line, we can invoke this JAXB tool from within the Ant build environments. Use the com.sun.tools.xjc.XJCTask Ant task from within the Ant build environment to invoke the xjc schema compiler tool. To function properly, this Ant task requires that you invoke Ant using the ws_ant script.

Avoid trouble: For the xjc Ant task, use the destdir parameter to specify the destination directory instead of the target option. Specifying the target option when using the xjc Ant task causes an error. gotcha

  1. Use the JAXB schema compiler, xjc command to generate JAXB-annotated Java classes. The schema compiler is located in the app_server_root\bin\ directory. The schema compiler produces a set of packages containing Java source files and JAXB property files depending on the binding options used for compilation.

  2. Optional. Use custom binding declarations to change the default JAXB mappings. Define binding declarations either in the XML schema file or in a separate bindings file. We can pass custom binding files using the -b option with the xjc command.

  3. Compile the generated JAXB objects. To compile generated artifacts, add the Thin Client for JAX-WS with WebSphere Application Server to the classpath.


Results

Now that we have generated JAXB objects, we can write Java applications using the generated JAXB objects and manipulate the XML content through the generated JAXB classes.


Example

The following example illustrates how JAXB tooling can generate Java classes when starting with an existing XML schema file.

  1. Copy the following bookSchema.xsd schema file to a temporary directory.

      <xsd:schema xmlns:xsd="http://www.w3.org/2001/XMLSchema"> <xsd:element name="CatalogData"> <xsd:complexType > <xsd:sequence> <xsd:element name="books" type="bookdata" minOccurs="0" maxOccurs="unbounded"/> </xsd:sequence> </xsd:complexType> </xsd:element> <xsd:complexType name="bookdata"> <xsd:sequence> <xsd:element name="author" type="xsd:string"/> <xsd:element name="title" type="xsd:string"/> <xsd:element name="genre" type="xsd:string"/> <xsd:element name="price" type="xsd:float"/> <xsd:element name="publish_date" type="xsd:dateTime"/> <xsd:element name="description" type="xsd:string"/> </xsd:sequence> <xsd:attribute name="id" type="xsd:string"/> </xsd:complexType> </xsd:schema>

  2. Open a command prompt.

  3. Run the JAXB schema compiler, xjc command from the directory where the schema file is located. The xjc schema compiler tool is located in the app_server_root\bin\ directory.

      app_server_root\bin\xjc.bat bookSchema.xsd

      app_server_root/bin/xjc.sh bookSchema.xsd

    Running the xjc command generates the following JAXB Java files: 

    generated\Bookdata.java
generated\CatalogdData.java
generated\ObjectFactory.java

  4. Use the generated JAXB objects within a Java application to manipulate XML content through the generated JAXB classes.

Refer to the JAXB Reference implementation documentation for additional information about the xjc command.


Related concepts

  • JAXB


    Related tasks

  • Use JAXB for XML data binding
  • Use JAXB schemagen tooling to generate an XML schema file from a Java class
  • Use the JAXB runtime to marshal and unmarshal XML documents

  • Web services specifications and APIs


    Related information:

    JAXB 2.2 Reference implementation