The Data Object Support XML file allows a DDEX provider to define the structure of their data source in terms of a set of objects. This definition does not represent the actual data on the data source (e.g. the rows in a table), nor does it represent the structure of data on the data source (e.g. the list of tables). It abstracts one level further to represent the structure of the structure of data on the data source. For example, it does not define that a table column has name "id" and type "integer" but rather it defines that there exists a type called "table column" that has properties "name" and "type". The resulting definitions allow upstream data designers to represent and design the structure of data sources. Represents the root element in the file. Imports definitions from another data object support source. Specifies a name that identifies the source to import. This name will be passed to the provider's IVsDataSupportImportResolver. Defines a shareable fragment of data object support. Specifies the name of this definition. Specifies the parameters expected by this definition. Parameters give a way to transform the contents of a define based on inputs from the inserting element. A parameter value is a string that can be substituted in attribute or element values using the format "$(name)". The format of this attribute is a comma-delimited list of parameter names. These names can only contain letters or digits. Inserts definitions in place of this element. Specifies the name of the definition to insert. Specifies the arguments to pass to the definition as a comma- delimited list of strings. If a value contains a comma, the comma can be embedded in the value by specifying a double comma (",,"). Represents the list of object types that define the structure of the data source in terms of a set of objects. Represents the definition of the root object type. A root object type has no identifier and there is only ever one instance of the type. Represents the definition of an object type. Each instance of a type must have a unique identifier composed of one or more identifier parts in order to distinguish it from all other instances. Specifies the name of the type. Specifies the name of a property defined on the type that represents the unqualified name of instances of the type. If unspecified, a property called "Name" will be chosen if it exists, otherwise instances of the type are considered nameless. Specifies the preferred ordering for collections of instances of the type. Represents the definition of an identifier of an object type by indicating a set of identifier parts that when combined together in the given order, uniquely identify each instance of the object type. Represents the definition of an identifier part of an object type. Represents the definition of the properties of an object type. Represents the definition of a property of an object type. Specifies a value indicating if the property inherits its characteristics from an identifier part with the same name. Represents the definition of a member of an object type. Specifies the name of the member. Specifies the type of the member as a standard .NET framework type. The default is "System.String". Represents the definition of any services for an object type. Represents the definition of a service for an object type by mapping a service type name to an implementation of the service. This may be a type specific service, or it may be a specialization of a more general service. Specifies the name of the service type. Specifies the implementation of the service as a string that can be resolved by the provider's object factory GetType() method. If unspecified, the provider must supply a global implementation as a service on their IVsDataConnectionSupport implementation. If parameters are specified, it is expected that the implementation would also implement IVsDataSupportObject. Represents the list of mapped object types (well known object types) that are exposed by the data source. Represents the support for a mapped object type, which describes how a mapped object type computes its members in terms of the members of a data source specific type. If there is a one-to-many mapping from mapped object type to data source specific type, multiple MappedType elements with the same name may be specified for each supporting data source specific type. Specifies the name of the mapped type. Specifies the name of the underlying data source specific type from which this mapped object type will retrieve its members. Represents the mapping of a mapped object selector call to the data source specific selection that returns the appropriate set of objects. Specifies the data source specific restrictions that are based on the restrictions passed to the mapped object selector call and/or any substitution values. Mapped restrictions are specified using '{Name}' and substitution values are specified using '{n}' where n is the zero- based index of the substitution value in the defined list. Specifies the data source specific filter that is based on the restrictions passed to the mapped object selector call and/or any substitution values. Mapped restrictions are specified using '{Name}' and substitution values are specified using '{n}' where n is the zero- based index of the substitution value in the defined list. Specifies the data source specific ordering that is required to be passed data source specific selection in order to ensure the returned objects are ordered according to the mapped object type requirement. Represents a set of values computed from restrictions passed to the mapped object selector call that may be substituted in the data source specific specification of restrictions and filter. Represents a value computed from restrictions passed to the mapped object selector call that may be substituted in the data source specification of restrictions and filter. Specifies the name of the mapped restriction from which this substitution value will retrieve its value. Specifies the name of the mapped restrictions from which this substitution value will retrieve its value, as a comma-delimited list of restriction names. Represents the mapping for an identifier of a mapped object type to the data source specific type members that provide the identifier. Represents the mapping for an identifier part of a mapped object type to the data source specific type member or members that provide the value of the identifier part. Represents the mapping for properties of a mapped object type to the data source specific type members that provide the properties. Represents the mapping for a property of a mapped object type to the data source specific type member or members that provide the value of the property. Specifies a value indicating if the property inherits its characteristics from an identifier part with the same name. Represents the definition of a member of a mapped object type. Specifies the name of the member. Specifies the name of the underlying data source specific type member from which this mapped object type member will retrieve its value. Specifies the name of the underlying data source specific type members from which this mapped object type member will retrieve its value, as a comma-delimited list of member names. Represents the conversion of a data source specific member or members to a member of a mapped object type as a set of steps. Represents a conversion step that splits the string representation of the value around strings matched by the specified regular expression. Specifies the regular expression to use. Represents a conversion step that searches the string representation of the value for all occurrences of the string matched by the specified regular expression. Specifies the regular expression to use. Represents a conversion step that searches the string representation of the value for all occurrences of the string matched by the specified regular expression and applies the specified replacement pattern to each match. Specifies the regular expression to use. Specifies the replacement string to use. Represents a conversion step that calculates a result by evaluating the specified expression. References to values involved in the conversion are specified using {0}, {1}, etc. Specifies the expression to evaluate. Specifies the type of the expression. This is required because of limitations in how the expression evaluator works. Represents a conversion step that format values involved in the conversion into a single string using a standard format string. Specifies the format string to use. Represents a conversion step that changes the type of the value. Specifies the type to convert to as a standard .NET framework type. Represents a conversion step that calls a object concept mapper implementation to produce the value of the mapped member. Specifies the implementation of the concept mapper as a string that can be resolved by the provider's object factory GetType() method. If unspecified, the provider must supply a global implementation as a service on their IVsDataConnectionSupport implementation. If parameters are specified, it is expected that the implementation would also implement IVsDataSupportObject. Represents a set of parameters that can be passed to a method on an implementation. Specifies the method on the service to which these parameters apply. Represents a parameter that can be passed to an implementation. Specifies the type of the parameter value as a standard .NET framework type. The default is "System.String". Specifies the value of the parameter as a string that can be changed into the type specified by the type attribute. Represents elements that can be versioned by specifying a minimum and maximum source version to which the element applies. Specifies the minimum source version required for this element. Specifies the maximum source version supported by this element.