Error when embedding regular expression (phone numb validate) on xml schema (xsd)

Question

Hi all,

I don't understand why this regular expression for validation international phone number gives an error when embedded on xml-schema:

<xs:simpleType name="phoneType">
  <xs:restriction base="xs:string">
      <xs:pattern value="^\+(?:[0-9] ?){6,14}[0-9]$" />
  </xs:restriction>
</xs:simpleType>

What's wrong with it? Does support group matching? Why is not supported by Xml Schema ?

Thank you very much.

Indrit

Answer 1

It's probably the anchors (^ and $). In XML Schema, all regexes are implicitly anchored at both ends. Explicit anchors are not supported.

Answer 2

XML schema supports group matching, but not capturing or lookaround. This means that it doesn't the ?: non-capturing group.

According to http://www.regular-expressions.info/xml.html it also doesn't support the ^ and $ anchors.