The Proposed state is the initial state in this lifecycle model. An XML schema asset enters the Proposed state when a user adds a schema to the registry. (Typically, the user is a developer, but it might be an analyst or business owner who is requesting the development of the schema.)

The schema remains in the Proposed state while the user gathers the information required for the XML schema to enter the development phase. This might include supplying a formal request document and/or preliminary specifications for the schema. The user might also attach a preliminary XSD file to the schema asset at this point, but that would not be required.