Microsoft® SQL Server® 2008 Bible

Chapter 18. Manipulating XML Data

IN THIS CHAPTER

• Understanding the XML data type

• Creating and using XML columns and variables

• Loading XML documents from disk files

• Understanding XPath and XQuery

• Generating XML documents using FOR XML

• Performing XML data modification

• Handling XML namespaces

• Shredding XML using OPENXML

• Creating and using XML Schema Collections

• Working with XML indexes

• XML best practices

There has been a significant increase in the popularity and usage of XML in the past few years. XML is becoming widely accepted as the preferred format for exchanging and publishing information. Almost all modern applications seem to be touching XML in one way or another. They either generate XML for consumption by other applications or components, or they consume the XML produced by others. This chapter closely examines the XML capabilities of SQL Server 2008

XML is seen everywhere today. Knowingly or unknowingly, every application deals with XML in one way or another. For example, .NET applications use XML files to store configuration information. ASP.NET web pages are XML documents. Almost all modern websites generate and publish information as XML feeds (RDF, RSS, ATOM, OPML, etc.).

Changing application architectures in recent years contributed to the widespread acceptance of XML. Service-oriented architecture (SOA) promotes the usage of XML Web Services. AJAX (Asynchronous JavaScript and XML) has become a basic requirement of every web application today. XHTML has become the default standard ...