Use XML in DB2 SQL Stored Procedures: Access XML Data With Procedural Logic in DB2 9 for Linux, UNIX, and Windows

Overview

IBM DB2 9 for Linux, UNIX, and Windows adds major new XML functionality over and above prior DB2 releases. Before DB2 9, one could either store XML documents as LOBs or shred incoming XML data into relational tables, a process which required an add-on tool called XML Extender. However, DB2 9 enables users to store and query XML data in its native hierarchical format - a technique referred to as pureXML support. Now, one can build indexes over XML data, and perform shredding using a call to a stored procedure. This paper discusses the use of XML in SQL stored procedures.