How to store the XML data? file or database?

Question

i'm frustrate at it.
If store XML data into files, then when i query any data,how can i search data using relationship as SQL?
But if store XML data into database.How can i transform the xml data to the data table?
Can any one give me an clear example.

Answer 1

XML is perfect for data interchange and readability. However, to make it searchable you should resolve it properly into tables, in accordance of your own choice of model.
1. Investigate the XML files and resolve the model
<Person sex="male">John
<Pet animal="dog">Doggy</Pet>
<Pet animal="cat">Catty</Pet>
</Person>
2. Create the tables in your database, let one or several tables keep the raw xml for retrieval of original xml data.
--- XMLDocument ---
id XML_data
--- Person ---
id XML_Document_id sex name
(foreign key)
--- Pet ---
id Person_id animal name
(foreign key)
3. Resolve data from the xml files and insert it into the database. Do this through your ContentHandler, or from your DOM model.
--- XMLDocument ---
id XML_data
0 <Person>...</Person>
--- Person ---
id XML_Document_id sex name
0 0 male John
--- Pet ---
id Person_id animal name
0 0 dog Doggy
1 0 cat Catty
Gil