• Chapter 1: Getting Started with Stylus Studio
• Chapter 2: Editing and Querying XML
• Chapter 3: Converting Non-XML Files to XML
• Chapter 4: Working with XSLT
• Chapter 5: Creating XSLT Using the XSLT Mapper
• Chapter 6: Debugging Stylesheets
• Chapter 7: Defining XML Schemas
• Chapter 8: Defining Document Type Definitions
• Chapter 9: Writing XPath Expressions
• Chapter 10: Working with XQuery in Stylus Studio
• Chapter 11: Composing Web Service Calls
• Chapter 12: Accessing Relational Data as XML
  • Overview of DB-to-XML Data Sources
    • Supported Databases
    • DB-to-XML Data Source Scenarios
    • The DB-to-XML Data Source Editor
    • Creating a DB-to-XML Data Source
  • Opening a New DB-to-XML Data Source Document
  • Specifying Connection Settings
  • Working with Scenarios
  • Composing SQL/XML in Stylus Studio
  • Working with Relational Data as XML
  • Using the URL Builder
• Chapter 13: Extending Stylus Studio
• Chapter 14: Stylus Studio GUI Reference

Home > Online Product Documentation > Table of Contents > Overview of DB-to-XML Data Sources

Overview of DB-to-XML Data Sources

SQL/XML is an extension of the Structured Query Language (SQL) that allows you to query relational data, render query results as XML, and write modified or new data back to a relational database. Stylus Studio supports the SQL/XML standard by allowing you to create a DB-to-XML data source, a file that contains

The URL Builder

If you need only to render an entire table or view as XML, use the URL Builder. Any time you need more control - writing your own SQL/XML or updating the relational database, for example - use a DB-to-XML data source. See Using the URL Builder for more information on the URL Builder Utility.

In this section

This section covers the following topics:

Supported Databases

Stylus Studio supports several relational databases, including:

In addition, you can use DataDirect SequeLink Server, bundled with Stylus Studio, to connect to any ODBC data source. See Choosing a Database to learn more about specifying a database for a DB-to-XML data source.

System Requirements

In order to use DB-to-XML data sources, the Java Runtime Environment (JRE) 1.4.x or greater must be installed on your machine. This feature also requires that you install the JRE with the optional module, Support for Additional Languages. You can verify whether or not this module has been installed by checking your JRE for these files:

DB-to-XML Data Source Scenarios

A DB-to-XML data source scenario is a group of customizable settings associated with a DB-to-XML data source. You use a scenario to specify connection settings, such as the

You define these settings on the Scenario Properties dialog box. See Specifying Connection Settings to learn more about DB-to-XML data source scenarios.

The DB-to-XML Data Source Editor

You use the DB-to-XML data source editor to specify database connectivity settings, and to compose the SQL/XML (queries and other actions) that you want to execute on the server.

SQL/XML Editor

The SQL/XML editor is on the left side of the DB-to-XML data source editor. It consists of two tabs, SELECT and UPDATE, which you use to compose SQL/XML SELECT and, optionally, UPDATE and INSERT statements. You can type directly in the editor, or you can use drag-and-drop to automatically compose SQL/XML statements.

See Composing SQL/XML in Stylus Studio to learn more about using the SQL/XML editor.

Database Schema Tree

The database schema tree is on the right side of the DB-to-XML data source editor. Once you have established a connection to the database specified in the scenario, Stylus Studio displays a tree diagram of the database schema.

The database schema tree is displayed by default. You can hide it by clicking the Show/Hide Database Schema button ( ).

Information in the schema tree is displayed in a hierarchical fashion, starting with the server you specified in the scenario. Tables, views, and columns are displayed in database order; column data types are displayed in the Type column.

Working with Relational Data

Stylus Studio can automatically create valid SELECT, INSERT, and UPDATE SQL/XML statements based on the objects you select from the database schema tree. In addition, your DB-to-XML data source can contain any valid SQL/XML statement defined on the SELECT or UPDATE tabs. The actions that can be performed by the SQL/XML you define in your DB-to-XML data source are limited only by the permissions of the username you use to log in to the database. See Composing SQL/XML in Stylus Studio for more information on this topic.

Creating a DB-to-XML Data Source

The process of creating a DB-to-XML data source in Stylus Studio involves the following steps:

Stylus Studio displays the Scenario Properties dialog box.

The remainder of this chapter describes these steps in greater detail.