Working with Databases

Previous Top Next

When a DB is used as the basis of an SPS—that is, as the main schema of an SPS—the SPS can be used in the following ways:

•	To edit the DB in Authentic View.

•	To generate an XML Schema having a structure based on the DB (if the DB does not contain a schema; only XML DBs, such as IBM DB2 version 9 upwards, contain schemas).

•	To generate an XML file with data from the DB (if the required DB data is not already in XML format).

•	To design and generate XSLT stylesheets for HTML, RTF, PDF, and Word 2007 output.

•	To generate DB reports (based on the SPS design) in HTML, RTF, PDF, and Word 2007 format. These reports can be previewed in StyleVision

When a DB is the source of a subsidiary schema in an SPS, then data from the DB can be included in the design document, but the DB itself cannot be edited in Authentic View. It is the XML document or DB associated with the main schema that can be edited.

General procedure

This section describes the procedure for working with DBs in StyleVision. After an introductory sub-section, which provides an overview of how DBs work in StyleVision, the sub-sections of this section describe the various steps in the work procedure. Note that we distinguish between two broad types of DBs: non-XML DBs and XML DBs. The term DB is used in two senses: generically, it refers to all DBs; specifically, to non-XML DBs. XML DBs are always referred to as XML DBs. The distinction should be borne in mind because the method of selecting the DB data that provides the schema and XML data for the SPS is different for these two types of DB.

•	Connecting to a DB: Describes how to connect to non-XML DBs, including IBM DB2 versions below 9..

•	DB Data Selection: Describes how the schema and XML data for the SPS is selected from the DB's table structure, for non-XML and XML DBs separately.

•

The DB Schema and DB XML file: When DB tables (from non-XML DBs) are loaded, StyleVision generates and works with temporary XML Schema and XML data files based, respectively, on the DB structure and data. For XML DBs, the schema and XML files are not generated by StyleVision but referenced directly from the DB or, in the case of schemas, from another file location.

•	DB Filters: Filtering DB Data: DB data that is loaded into the temporary XML file can be filtered.

•	SPS Design Features for DB: In the SPS, special DB functionality, such as DB controls and DB Queries, are available.

•	Generating Output Files: A wide range of DB report-related files can be generated by StyleVision.

Supported databases and their root objects

The following databases are supported. After connecting to the database, the available root objects for each of the supported database is as follows:

Database	Root Object
MS SQL Server 2000 and 2005	database
Oracle 9i and 10g	schema
MS Access 2003 and 2007	database
MySQL 4.x and 5.x	database
IBM DB2 8.x and 9	schema
Sybase 12	database
IBM DB2 for iSeries v4	schema
IBM zSeries for DB2 8 and greater	schema

Please note:

Stylevision fully supports the databases listed above. While Altova endeavors to support other ODBC/ADO databases, successful connection and data processing have only been tested with the listed databases.