Changes to the XML configuration interface for this version of WebSphere Portal

Learn about the changes that were made to the XML configuration interface from earlier versions to current versions of IBM® WebSphere® Portal. This information can be useful to you if you migrate your WebSphere Portal from one version to a later version.

Changed XML schema

The XML schema is updated for new versions of WebSphere Portal as required. Make sure that your XML scripts specify the correct version of the XML schema according to the version of your portal installation. For example, for portal Version 8.5 specify the current version of the XML schema as follows:

   <?xml version="1.0" encoding="UTF-8"?>
   <request
    xmlns:xsi="http://www.w3.org/2001/XMLSchema-instance"
    xsi:noNamespaceSchemaLocation="PortalConfig_8.5.0.xsd"
    type="export | update">
     . . . configuration . . .
   </request>

The different versions of WebSphere Portal use the following syntax definitions for the XML configuration interface:

Table 1. XML syntax definitions for different WebSphere Portal versions
WebSphere Portal Version XML schema
Version 7.0.0 7.0.0
Version 7.0.0.2 7.0.0_2
Version 8.0.0 8.0.0
Version 8.5 8.5.0
Notes:
  1. Backward compatibility: The later XML schemas are backward compatible with earlier supported versions of WebSphere Portal. This means that you can run XML scripts from earlier portal versions that IBM supports under a later version of the portal. For example, you can run an XML script that is based on the PortalConfig_7.0.0.xsd under portal Version 8.5. In such cases a warning message is written to the output script, which informs that a previous version of the XML schema was used.
  2. Schema file naming convention: If the XML schema is enhanced by updates, a new version of the xsd file with a new file name is created according to the following naming convention:
    • Starting with portal V 6.0.1 the schema file name includes the portal version number as follows: PortalConfig_portal_version_number.xsd. Example: PortalConfig_7.0.0.xsd.
    • If the schema is enhanced during a portal version, the name includes additional ID information to ensure unique schema file names: PortalConfig_portal_version_number_id.xsd. Example: PortalConfig_7.0.0_2.xsd.

New XML resources in WebSphere Portal Version 8.5

In WebSphere Portal Version 8.5 the following new resource tags have been introduced:
Table 2. New resource tags
New XML configuration interface tags in portal Version 8.5 Tag specifies the following type of portal resource
device-class a device class
global-target-settings a section containing the cross-page wire settings that are set as global targets
target a global target
For more details about this tag refer to the XML configuration interface reference.

New XML attributes in WebSphere Portal Version 8.5

This section lists the attributes that have been added to WebSphere Portal for Version 8.5.

  • A new boolean flag system has been introduced for content-mapping tags.
  • You can now set parameter sections for task nodes.
  • A new attribute target-portletdefinitionref has been introduced on cross-page-wire items,

Removed XML resources in WebSphere Portal Version 8.5

The following XML resource is no longer supported in portal Version 8.5:
  • event-handler

Setting the project scope in WebSphere Portal Version 8.5

The managed pages feature enables you to edit portal resources, such as pages, in the scope of a project. By working in a project, you can create, update, and approve pages in a draft state, without affecting the live server. You can specify a project scope for actions performed with the XML configuration interface command by including the object ID of the project in the URL. See XML configuration interface and managed pages for details.