A simple datatype is an XML element or attribute that contains text. A simple type is indivisible. Simple types cannot have attributes, but attributes are simple types.
PowerCenter supports the following simple types:
Atomic types.
A basic datatype such as Boolean, string, or integer.
Lists.
An array collection of atomic types.
Unions.
A combination of one or more atomic or list types that map to a simple type in an XML file.