FSD is XML

An FSD document is written in XML. It must therefore meet the normal requirements for being a well-formed XML document (that is, it must have an XML declaration and a root tag).

The XML declaration is something like:

<?xml encoding='UTF8' version='1.0' ?>

The root tag for a valid FSD must begin with the schema element. This defines the XML name space for the FSD and the version number of FSD being used. Therefore, the root tag is something like: <schema xmlns='http://www.systemsunion.com/2001/TD/SSTransform/fsd/' version='1.0'> </schema>

The FSD processor uses the schema element purely for validation and version checking. The schema element has no effect on conversion to or from flat data.