Abstract: A method controls a translation of predefined rules and/or of incoming data. The data is described in an XML schema. A conversion of hierarchically arranged elements of the XML schema into a list containing list entries is performed. This is effected in that for an element representing a parent component in the XML schema, a fact class is created which for every possible relationship arising from the parent component contains a fact element containing all elements of the path of the relevant relationship of the XML schema, wherein the fact elements represent the list entries of the fact class. At least one of the fact elements is assigned property information which represents a processing instruction for the assigned fact element for the translation of the rules and/or data. A translation of the rules and/or data is affected.