Use Model as the source for ArrayCollection
<?xml version="1.0" encoding="utf-8"?> <mx:Application xmlns:mx="http://www.adobe.com/2006/mxml" layout="vertical"> <mx:Model id="myData"> <rootTag> <book> <title>Java</title> <author>Java2s</author> </book> <book> <title>Flex</title> <author>Flex2</author> </book> </rootTag> </mx:Model> <mx:ArrayCollection source="{myData.book}" id="myACC" /> </mx:Application>