XML for capabilities
The capabilities element in the (OSC) provider XML schema allows an OSC provider to specify its functionality. Such functionality includes the following:
Whether the provider supports getting, caching, or dynamically looking up friends and activities from the social network.
How the OSC should display certain logon user interfaces.
Whether the OSC should use forms-based authentication or automatically configure the social network and logs on the user on the social network.
The XML schema for capabilities is critical because it identifies to the OSC the functionality supported by the provider. An OSC provider must implement the ISocialProvider::GetCapabilities method that returns a result string. The OSC calls ISocialProvider::GetCapabilities to obtain information about the capabilities of the OSC provider in the result string, which complies with the XML schema definition for the capabilities element. This information enables subsequent calls from the OSC to the OSC provider to operate correctly.
To specify capabilities of an OSC provider as an output parameter of the ISocialProvider::GetCapabilities method, you must conform to the OSC provider extensibility XML schema. The following figure shows the capabilities XML structure.
Figure 1. <capabilities> XML structure
For detailed descriptions of child elements of the capabilities element, see Capabilities XML Elements. For an example of capabilities XML, see Capabilities XML Example. For a complete definition of the OSC provider XML schema, including which elements are required or optional, see Outlook Social Connector Provider XML Schema.