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XML Extender Administration and Programming

Storage and access methods

XML Extender provides two storage and access methods for integrating XML documents into DB2: XML column and XML collection. These methods have very different uses, but can be used in the same application.

XML column
This method helps you stored intact XML documents in DB2. XML column works well for archiving documents. The documents are inserted into columns that are enabled for XML and can be updated, retrieved, and searched. Element and attribute data can be mapped to DB2 tables (side tables), which in turn can be indexed for fast structural search.

XML collection
This method helps you to map XML document structures to DB2 tables so that you can either compose XML documents from existing DB2 data, or decompose (store untagged element or attribute content) XML documents into DB2 data. This method is good for data interchange applications, particularly when the contents of XML documents are frequently updated.


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