A system and method for assigning attributes to XML document nodes to facilitate their storage in relational databases and the subsequent retrieval and re-construction of pertinent nodes and fragments in original document order is provided. Since these queries are performed using relational database query engines, the speed of their execution is significantly faster than that using more exotic systems such as object-oriented databases. Furthermore, this method is portable across all vendor platforms, and so can be deployed at client sites without additional investments in database software.
A method for associating information related to a component of a structured document that is stored in its native format in a database system includes generating a hierarchical node tree comprising a plurality of nodes, where each node represents a component in the structured document, and generating a path associated with each node, where the path follows the hierarchical structure of the structured document from a root node to the node. In each node, an identifier associated with the path is stored. A table is provided that correlates the identifier with information related to the associated path. The information applies to the component represented by the node.
