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Convert XSD to DTD

Verified by Adam B.· reviewed by FE Editorial ·updated Sep 4, 2026
QUICK ANSWER
Is it possible to convert XSD to DTD?
Yes - XSD converts to DTD.

Use Oxygen XML Editor's Tools > Generate/Convert Schema dialog and select DTD as the output format. Only do this for compatibility with legacy XML parsers or SGML-based systems that cannot use XSD - the conversion is a downgrade in validation power.

Also to DTD: XSL

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Tested on macOS, Windows & Linux
Last verified Oct 2026

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Why convert XSD to DTD?

DTD is an older schema format for XML, introduced with SGML in 1986 and adopted for XML in 1998. Converting from XSD to .dtd is only worthwhile for legacy systems that predate XSD and accept only DTD for validation; outside that narrow case, XSD is strictly more capable.

How to convert XSD to DTD

Oxygen XML Editor APP

Open the .xsd, go to Tools > Generate/Convert Schema, select DTD as the output format, choose an output file location, and click OK; review the conversion report for features that could not be translated.

Saxon FREE

Apply a custom XSLT stylesheet targeting xs:element declarations by running it with Saxon against your .xsd; this approach covers only a subset of XSD and the output requires manual cleanup.

About these formats

.XSD XML Schema Definition

An XSD file is an XML Schema Definition - a text file that sets the rules for what a particular XML document may contain. Open it in any text editor or, for syntax highlighting and…

Open .XSD details →
.DTD Document Type Definition

A DTD file is a Document Type Definition - a plain-text schema that specifies the allowed elements, attributes, and nesting rules for XML or SGML documents. Open it in any text editor…

Open .DTD details →

Quality & what to watch

  • DTD has no data types: all xs:string, xs:integer, pattern restrictions, and value constraints become plain #PCDATA or CDATA in the output.
  • Namespaces are dropped: if the XSD uses targetNamespace or imports multiple namespaces, none of that survives in the DTD output.
  • No free standalone tool with reliable XSD-to-DTD conversion is currently maintained; Oxygen XML Editor (paid, trial available) is the practical choice.

Frequently asked questions

Will the DTD validate as strictly as the XSD?
No - DTD cannot express data types, namespace awareness, or enumeration patterns, so the resulting schema validates far fewer constraints than the original XSD.
Is there a free online converter for XSD to DTD?
No reliable free online tool exists for this conversion; Oxygen XML Editor (paid, trial available) is the practical choice.
Can I automate the conversion?
With a custom XSLT stylesheet and Saxon or xsltproc you can automate it, but the approach requires XSLT authoring skills and produces only partial output.