In many organizations, relational databases are the backbone for data storage and retrieval. Over the last couple of years, XML has become the de facto standard to exchange information between organizations, as well as between departments or applications within the same organization. Since data tends to live in databases, it needs to be converted from a relational format into an XML format when involved in those data exchanges, as well as converted (back) from XML into a relational format for storage, or for handling by other applications.

How can we achieve this? This IBM Redbooks publication describes how to design the mapping between XML and relational data, and vice versa, to enable a flexible exchange of information.

IBM provides a number of products to help you bridge the gap between XML and its relational database, DB2. The DB2 engine itself provides support to generate XML fragments from relational data through the use of SQL/XML built-in functions. DB2 also provides the DB2 XML Extender. It allows you to perform XML composition, like SQL/XML, but also provides functionality to decompose XML documents and store XML documents intact inside the database. XML Extender also provides a set of transformation and validation functions. Another option to work with XML is to use the XML wrapper, a part of the set of non-relational wrappers of DB2 Information Integrator. This book also looks at the IBM tools available to assist you when dealing with XML, specifically WebSphere Application Developer and DB2 Control Center.

To add a more practical angle, these functions and products are illustrated through the development of a simple application.

Part 1. Overview

Chapter 1. XML and databases

Chapter 2. XML services in DB2 and DB2 Information Integrator

Chapter 3. Designing XML and database schemas

Part 2. Processing XML documents

Chapter 4. Storing whole XML documents

Chapter 5. Working with XML documents stored in XML columns

Chapter 6. Shredding XML into relational tables

Chapter 7. Bulk processing of XML documents

Chapter 8. Publishing data as XML

Chapter 9. Additional XML functionality

Chapter 10. Web services in DB2

Chapter 11. XML wrapper

Part 3. XML tools for database systems

Chapter 12. XML and database tools in Application Developer

Part 4. Worked examples

Chapter 13. Worked scenario

Chapter 14. Scenario implementation using DB2 functionality

Chapter 15. Scenario with Application Developer tools

Chapter 16. DB2 Web services and XML with Application Developer

Chapter 17. Deployment of DB2 Web services

Appendix A. Installation

Appendix B. Introduction to XML

Appendix C. Table-based and object-relational mappings

Appendix D. DAD DTD reference

Appendix E. Sample XML Tools

Appendix F. Additional material