schema_conversion

Schema Conversion (Import / Export of other schema formats)

MetaConfigurator can convert schemas between JSON Schema and a range of other modeling languages (XSD, SHACL, LinkML, MD-Models, and more). This makes it possible to import a schema authored in another language for editing and visualization, or to export the current JSON Schema to a different target format.

The conversions are performed by the Schema Conversion Orchestrator, a backend service that chains together existing converter libraries to find a path from the source to the target language. A public instance is used by default; the endpoint can be changed in the settings (backend → schemaConverterUrl).

Note: Schema conversions are usually lossy and ambiguous: different valid results are possible depending on the conventions used by the converters. Always verify the converted schema before using it.

Importing a schema from another format

Switch to the Schema Editor tab. In the top menu bar, open Open / Import / Infer Schema... → Import Schema from another format....

In the dialog:

1. Click Select File and choose the schema file. The Source format is detected automatically from the file extension and can be adjusted.
2. The target is always JSON Schema.
3. Click Convert.

The ranked conversion results are listed, best path first. Each successful result shows the converted schema and can be applied to the editor via Apply as current schema.

Exporting the current schema to another format

In the top menu bar, open Export Schema... → Export Schema to another format....

The source is the current JSON Schema. Select a Target format (e.g. XSD, SHACL, LinkML, MD-Models, GraphQL, Protobuf, ShEx, OWL, Mermaid, SQLAlchemy) and click Convert. Each result can be copied to the clipboard (Copy) or saved (Download).

Conversion paths, provenance and errors

For every attempt, the dialog renders the full conversion path as a sequence of language nodes connected by labeled edges, one edge per converter step. Hovering over an edge reveals the converter's library name, version, and a link to it, so you can see exactly which tool produced a result (useful for citing or reporting issues).

When a path fails, the responsible edge is highlighted and the corresponding error message (plus intermediate results, if any) is shown, giving actionable diagnostics.

Supported formats

• Import (→ JSON Schema): XSD, DTD, SHACL (Turtle), LinkML, MD-Models
• Export (JSON Schema →): XSD, SHACL (Turtle / JSON-LD), LinkML, MD-Models, GraphQL, Protobuf, ShEx, OWL (Turtle), Mermaid, SQLAlchemy

Only conversions that have JSON Schema as the source or the target are surfaced here; conversions directly between two other languages remain available through the orchestrator's API.