Re: From TODO, XML?

Bruce Momjian wrote:
>
> > I have been fighting, for a while now, with idiot data vendors that think XML
> > is a cure all. The problem is that XML is a hierarchical format where as SQL is
> > a relational format.
> >
> > It would be good to get pg_dump to write an XML file and DTD, but getting
> > external sources of XML into PostgreSQL is WAY more complicated. If an XML
> > import is to be useful beyond just a different format for pg_dump, there has to
> > be some intelligent database construction based on the XML information.
> >
> > Go to mp3.com, and download some of their XML format data, first, it is bad
> > XML, second, it is hierarchical.
> >
> > I have managed to get several XML files into PostgreSQL by writing a parser,
> > and it is a huge hassle, the public parsers are too picky. I am thinking that a
> > fuzzy parser, combined with some intelligence and an XML DTD reader, could make
> > a very cool utility, one which I have not been able to find.
> >
> > Perhaps it is a two stage process? First pass creates a schema which can be
> > modified/corrected, the second pass loads the data.
>
> Can we accept only relational XML. Does that buy us anything? Are the
> other database vendors outputting heirchical XML? Are they using
> foreign/primary keys to do it?

Then what's the point? Almost no one creates a non-hierarchical XML. For the
utility to be usefull, beyond just a different format for pg_dump, it has to
deal with these issues and do the right thing.

>
> --
> Bruce Momjian | http://candle.pha.pa.us
> pgman(at)candle(dot)pha(dot)pa(dot)us | (610) 853-3000
> + If your life is a hard drive, | 830 Blythe Avenue
> + Christ can be your backup. | Drexel Hill, Pennsylvania 19026
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