[XML4Lib] native xml databases and/or XQuery?

[marc]

Kevin S. Clarke wrote:
> Hi all,
> 
> I'm curious in finding out how many libraries out there are using or
> experimenting with native xml databases.  If you are, would you mind
> dropping me an email offlist saying you are and how you are using it?
> I'm not aware of any sites yet where libraries are sharing their code
> for these types of databases.  Which leads me to my second question...
> 
> I'm also interested in learning of libraries who are using XQuery as a
> primary development language.  Since the xmldb api is ancient (and not
> supported by all native xml databases), xquery seems like the most
> logical way to interact with a native xml database.  If you are using
> xquery with a relational database or a file system I'd also be
> interested in hearing from you!
> 
> Thanks,
> Kevin

Hi Kevin

Native XML databases are fine in may circumstances where XML formatted 
semi-structured text is involved, and they definitely shine on XML 
access methods like XPATH and XQUERY.

However, it is my personal experience that XPATH and XQUERY allone are 
not always sufficent to drive patrons information retrieval needs, which 
may require a combination of those XML structured access methods with 
full-text search and relevance ranking as well.

If you find yourself in a spot where you also need IR functionality, I 
suggest you broaden your look to XML/IR DB hybrids. You can find some of 
those in the wikipedia section

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Information_retrieval#Open_source_information_retrieval_systems

Here you find databases which approach full text searching from the XML 
XQUERY world, implementing XQuery 1.0 and XPath 2.0 Full-Text

http://www.w3.org/TR/xquery-full-text/

like

http://www.galaxquery.com/galatex/

and IR databases, based on standard IR networked protocols, Z39.50 and SRU

http://www.loc.gov/standards/sru/

which are capable of indexing XML by XPATH expressions, like

http://www.indexdata.dk/zebra/


I am sure you can find other hybrid IR/XML GPL'ed products out there.
You might want to try googeling for "XML information retrieval".


Your's Marc Cromme


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Marc Cromme, cand. polyt, Ph.D
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