# Importing XML schemas

If you want to work with XML schema files that you created outside of the product, you can import them into the workbench and open them in the XML schema editor. The XML schema editor provides you with a structured view of the XML schema.

The following instructions were written for the Resource perspective, but they will also work in many other perspectives.

To import an XML schema into the workbench, complete the following steps:

1. Click File > Import.
2. Select General > File System and click Next.
3. Click Browse on the next page of the wizard to select the directories from which you would like to add the XML schema.
4. In the import selection panes, use the following methods to select exactly the resources you want to add:
   - Expand the hierarchies in the left pane and select or clear the checkboxes that represent the folders in the selected directory. Then in the right pane, select or clear check boxes for individual files.
   - Click Filter Types to filter the current selection for files of a specific type.
   - Click Select All to select all resources in the directory, then go through and deselect the ones that you do not want to add.
   - Click Deselect All to deselect all resources in the directory, then go through and choose individual resources to add.
5. In the Into folder field, specify the Workbench project or folder that will be the import destination.
6. When you have finished specifying your import options, click Finish.

The imported schema now appears in the Navigator view. Double-click it to open it in the XML schema editor.

Related concepts
XML schema editor
Related tasks
Editing XML schema properties
Validating XML schemas
Adding import elements
Adding include elements