Question

I want to validate following XML. Where a branch can have no or multiple managers and/or accountants. Their order is random. What I have tried is as follows:

 <!ELEMENT branch (office, manager*, accountant*)>

But I am getting error, and I know above statement is making order strict. How can I avoid the order of manager and accountant.

The XML:

<branch name = "south">
<office>
    <addr>St. 32, Downtown</addr>
</office>
<manager>
    <username>
        knitemorgan
    </username>
</manager>
<accountant>
    <username>
        johnsmith
    </username>
</accountant>
<manager>
    <username>
        jenifer
    </username>
</manager>
<accountant>
    <username>
        fclark
    </username>
</accountant>
   <branch>
  <branch name = "north">
<office>
    <addr>St. 328, Downtown</addr>
</office>
<accountant>
    <username>
        rogerbentley
    </username>
</accountant>
<manager>
    <username>
        wendymaria
    </username>
</manager>
    <branch> 

Answer 1

Try something like this:

<!ELEMENT branch (office,(manager|accountant)*)>

This means exactly one office followed by zero or more manager or accountant.

Order doesn’t matter with the manager or accountant because of the |.