See section 3.3.4.1:

[Definition:]   Given a Type Table T and an element information item E, T
conditionally selects a type S for E in the following way. The {test}
expressions in T's {alternatives} are evaluated, in order, until one of the
Type Alternatives .successfully selects. a type definition for E, or until
all have been tried without success. 

> Suppose that several <alternative> elements apply. Which one 
> will be used? 

So the answer is: the first one.

Regards,

Michael Kay
http://www.saxonica.com/
http://twitter.com/michaelhkay 


> -----Original Message-----
> From: xmlschema-dev-request@w... 
> [mailto:xmlschema-dev-request@w...] On Behalf Of Costello, Roger L.
> Sent: 01 July 2009 21:23
> To: xmlschema-dev@w...
> Subject: [XML Schema 1.1] Multiple <alternative> elements 
> apply ... which one wins?
> 
> 
> Hi Folks,
> 
> 
> Example: the below <Beverage> element has two <alternative> 
> elements. If the value of its current-time attribute is 
> 08:00:00 then both <alternative> elements apply. Which one 
> will be used?
> 
> <xs:element name="Beverage" type="BeverageType">
>     <xs:alternative test="@current-time le '12:00:00'" 
> type="MorningBeverage" />
>     <xs:alternative test="@current-time le '09:00:00'" 
> type="EarlyMorningBeverage" /> </xs:element>
> 
> /Roger