ProductsDatabaseSpyXML in Databases

Altova DatabaseSpy® 2008 includes special features for working with databases that contain XML content.

XML is established as the preferred method for exchanging structured data between enterprises, but storing XML data in a relational database adds a new layer of complexity. DatabaseSpy® 2008 includes a collection of robust tools to help you analyze and manipulate databases that contain XML information, such as IBM DB2 9 pureXML.

When you expand a database table using the DatabaseSpy Online Browser, columns containing XML data are identified in the Browser Tree.

You can further expand any XML column to identify the XML Schema assigned for validation of that column’s data.

It’s easy to identify all XML Schemas stored in the database, by using the Online Browser to expand the XML Schemas folder.

To examine any XML Schema in detail, you can send it to XMLSpy® 2008, where it is automatically opened in XMLSpy Schema View for intuitive graphical display.

When you choose Retrieve Data from the Online Browser right-click context menu, columns containing XML data are retrieved similarly to other datatypes.

You can drag the edges of the column for a wider view of the XML data, or copy one or more rows to paste into another application.

The DatabaseSpy® 2008 Tools menu offers another route to management of XML Schemas registered in your database.

The XML Schema Management dialog lets you add or drop an XML Schema from the database. You can also decompose an XML Schema for applications that require shredding – or decomposing – XML data into multiple columns in database tables.

The XML Schema Management dialog even includes an icon for fast access to the Quick Connect Wizard for efficient connection to offline databases, and the View Schema button provides another link to open an XML Schema in XMLSpy.

You can explore tables containing XML datatypes using the DatabaseSpy® 2008 Design Editor. XML columns are identified by an icon next to the column name, as well as in the Type field. You can open the column properties window to view detailed information.

As you would expect, the DatabaseSpy® 2008 Design Editor lets you assign XML as the datatype when you create a new column in a database table.

Find out for yourself how DatabaseSpy® 2008 can help you efficiently work with databases that contain XML data – download a free 30-day trial today!