Best way to store data

[Crirus]

Hi
I have about 1000 records of users to store.. I dont like the ideea of a
database server...
How to store does data in a structured way?
An XML?
How big can became such an xml, because I whould like to load it and search
for data.
Can I search for some data without loading all xml into memory?

--
Ceers,
Crirus

------------------------------
If work were a good thing, the boss would take it all from you

------------------------------

[Herfried K. Wagner [MVP]]

* "Crirus" <Cr****@datagroup.ro> scripsit:

I have about 1000 records of users to store.. I dont like the ideea of a
database server...
How to store does data in a structured way?
An XML?
How big can became such an xml, because I whould like to load it and search
for data.
Can I search for some data without loading all xml into memory?

If there are more than 1,000 records, I wouldn't use XML. XML files
only make sense if they are smaller than ~20 KB. You may want to use an
Access database or SQL Server (or MSDE).

--
Herfried K. Wagner
MVP · VB Classic, VB.NET
<http://www.mvps.org/dotnet>

<http://www.plig.net/nnq/nquote.html>

[Crirus]

I could use an Access DB and manipulate data with ADO... anyway, I dont
think I will have more than 1000 records with about 6-7 fields, like general
datas about a used.
That's why i'm undecided

--
Ceers,
Crirus

------------------------------
If work were a good thing, the boss would take it all from you

------------------------------

"Herfried K. Wagner [MVP]" <hi***************@gmx.at> wrote in message
news:bo*************@ID-208219.news.uni-berlin.de...

* "Crirus" <Cr****@datagroup.ro> scripsit:

I have about 1000 records of users to store.. I dont like the ideea of a
database server...
How to store does data in a structured way?
An XML?
How big can became such an xml, because I whould like to load it and search for data.
Can I search for some data without loading all xml into memory?

If there are more than 1,000 records, I wouldn't use XML. XML files
only make sense if they are smaller than ~20 KB. You may want to use an
Access database or SQL Server (or MSDE).

--
Herfried K. Wagner
MVP · VB Classic, VB.NET
<http://www.mvps.org/dotnet>

<http://www.plig.net/nnq/nquote.html>

[Fergus Cooney]

Hi Crirus,

There was a query the other day from someone who transfers data between his
database and Excel using XML. Another guy was using Xml to stream objects from
one machine to another. These guys were talking about Xml strings in the MBs range!!

Xml will be fine to start off with - you can simply save it in a textfile if you like.
It's
not worth doing anything more complicated unless you find the performance to be
inadequate.

Regards,
Fergus

[Crirus]

Fergus, Seems that you rpost was deleted by server... please post again your
ideea :)

--
Ceers,
Crirus

------------------------------
If work were a good thing, the boss would take it all from you

------------------------------

"Crirus" <Cr****@datagroup.ro> wrote in message
news:uA**************@tk2msftngp13.phx.gbl...

Hi
I have about 1000 records of users to store.. I dont like the ideea of a
database server...
How to store does data in a structured way?
An XML?
How big can became such an xml, because I whould like to load it and search for data.
Can I search for some data without loading all xml into memory?

--
Ceers,
Crirus

------------------------------
If work were a good thing, the boss would take it all from you

------------------------------

[Fergus Cooney]

Hi Crirus,

(That was wierd).

There was a query the other day from someone who transfers data
between his database and Excel using XML. Another guy was using Xml
to stream objects from one machine to another. These guys were talking
about Xml strings in the MBs range!!

Xml will be fine to start off with - you can simply save it in a textfile if
you like. It's not worth doing anything more complicated unless you find
the performance to be inadequate.

Cheers,
Fergus

[Crirus]

Well, I need a structured and easy way to store data about some users...

Something like:

First Name, Last Name, Age, Gender, Country, UserName, Password...

I whould like to search later for a particular user... Do I have to load all
xml into a xmlDocument variable and query for some nodes?
Is there a way to search the XML without loading all data into memory?
--
Ceers,
Crirus

------------------------------
If work were a good thing, the boss would take it all from you

------------------------------

"Fergus Cooney" <fi****@post.com> wrote in message
news:%2****************@TK2MSFTNGP12.phx.gbl...

Hi Crirus,

(That was wierd).

There was a query the other day from someone who transfers data
between his database and Excel using XML. Another guy was using Xml
to stream objects from one machine to another. These guys were talking
about Xml strings in the MBs range!!

Xml will be fine to start off with - you can simply save it in a textfile if you like. It's not worth doing anything more complicated unless you find
the performance to be inadequate.

Cheers,
Fergus

[Cor]

Hi Fergus,

Strange that you don't know the name from that guy who was telling this, who
got that idea from Jay B by the way.

:-))

Cor

[Crirus]

Huh?

--
Ceers,
Crirus

------------------------------
If work were a good thing, the boss would take it all from you

------------------------------

"Cor" <no*@non.com> wrote in message
news:uB*************@tk2msftngp13.phx.gbl...

Hi Fergus,

Strange that you don't know the name from that guy who was telling this, who got that idea from Jay B by the way.

:-))

Cor

[Cor]

Hi Crirus, Herfried, Fergus,

If you make your XML as a XML dataset, you can use it as a dataset.
Just using dataset.readxml("xmlfile"))

But see what I write XML as a dataset, not every XML file is a dataset.

It satys in memory and afterwards you can use a dataset.writeXML("xmlfile")
to put it back..

(Fergus and Herfried, did you see that genealogic website of my, that is
based on that principe, there are datasets build, that is read using xmldoc
on the clientside.)

It is of course always single usermode.

Cor

[Cor]

> Huh?

Huh ??

[Cor]

Hi,

Crirus or others, no it was not Herfried

:-)))

Cor

[Crirus]

can you give me some details on dataset?
--
Ceers,
Crirus

------------------------------
If work were a good thing, the boss would take it all from you

------------------------------

"Cor" <no*@non.com> wrote in message
news:%2****************@TK2MSFTNGP10.phx.gbl...

Hi Crirus, Herfried, Fergus,

If you make your XML as a XML dataset, you can use it as a dataset.
Just using dataset.readxml("xmlfile"))

But see what I write XML as a dataset, not every XML file is a dataset.

It satys in memory and afterwards you can use a dataset.writeXML("xmlfile") to put it back..

(Fergus and Herfried, did you see that genealogic website of my, that is
based on that principe, there are datasets build, that is read using xmldoc on the clientside.)

It is of course always single usermode.

Cor

[Cor]

Hi Crirus,

I will, but did you ever before work with a dataset?

Before I write stupid things.

Cor

[Crirus]

I know about ADO so ... may understand allready what is a dataset, just
dindt knew about the control..
I thought that is only a class, somehwere

--
Ceers,
Crirus

------------------------------
If work were a good thing, the boss would take it all from you

------------------------------

"Cor" <no*@non.com> wrote in message
news:ug**************@TK2MSFTNGP09.phx.gbl...

Hi Crirus,

I will, but did you ever before work with a dataset?

Before I write stupid things.

Cor

[Crirus]

Anyway, I'm interested how a query is made on a dataset... Do I have to load
all xml in the dataset or something?

--
Ceers,
Crirus

------------------------------
If work were a good thing, the boss would take it all from you

------------------------------

"Cor" <no*@non.com> wrote in message
news:ug**************@TK2MSFTNGP09.phx.gbl...

Hi Crirus,

I will, but did you ever before work with a dataset?

Before I write stupid things.

Cor

[Cor]

Crirus,

A dataset is nothing than a big object that stores

A three dimensional table consisting of
tables
which has rows
which has items
And a lot of all kind of information about that dataset.

When you read a dataset clean from XML with nothing in it but elements and
without a XSD the only thing you get are tables, rows and items.

The first item in the first row in the first table is represented (let say
that the first item is "item")

dataset.tables(0).rows(0)("item")

You can access that as every other collection you are using and on a lot of
other ways also.

Cor

[Fergus Cooney]

Hi Cor,

Sorry, I'n not getting this one - Some guy telling what? And what idea?

Regards,
Fergus

[Cor]

Hi Fergus,

You were helping someone with a problem about an export from a SQL file to a
Exel file or something I thought.

Then it became very strange and even you said "sorry I think I cannot help
you anymore". Then I posted a solution by using XML, Jay B said that a long
time ago again, and I did remember me that and made an example of 3 lines of
code that was all that was needed. I think you have seen it but paid no
attention further to it.

So when you say "someone", I thought you did mean me.
Just for fun, no reason to call my name I was just trying to bring you in
that confuse state.

:-))

Cor

[Fergus Cooney]

Hi Crirus, Cor,

Yes, you'll have to load the Xml in - whether you search with a DataSet,
XmlDocument or File.ReadToEnd and Instr!

XmlDocument will allow you to search the tree structure and do XPath queries.
The DataSet will allow you to do Filtering and sorting, etc. Which would be best or
most efficient, etc is difficult to know. XPath will mean getting into a new area (I
guess),
ie. XSLT which might be interesting.

Regards,
Fergus

[Crirus]

Well, what I want to search is some data from certain fields like in a
database.
One use is that to prevent multiple records with the same email address to
be added...as an exemple

--
Ceers,
Crirus

------------------------------
If work were a good thing, the boss would take it all from you

------------------------------

"Fergus Cooney" <fi****@post.com> wrote in message
news:%2****************@TK2MSFTNGP11.phx.gbl...

Hi Crirus, Cor,

Yes, you'll have to load the Xml in - whether you search with a DataSet, XmlDocument or File.ReadToEnd and Instr!

XmlDocument will allow you to search the tree structure and do XPath queries. The DataSet will allow you to do Filtering and sorting, etc. Which would be best or most efficient, etc is difficult to know. XPath will mean getting into a new area (I guess),
ie. XSLT which might be interesting.

Regards,
Fergus

[Tom Leylan]

"Crirus" <Cr****@datagroup.ro> wrote...

I have about 1000 records of users to store.. I dont like the ideea of a
database server...

Hi again,

You received some interesting answers and I think we can see why you
wouldn't want to setup and maintain SQLServer for 1000 records but I'd like
to suggest that you explain the "purpose" it makes such difference in the
responses you will get.

I see later on you wrote "firstname, lastname, age... username, password"
and such. So it sounds like a database for keeping track of users. Is this
sitting on a server (for use by the server) or is the client software going
to perform the verification?

If it's on the server loading all the names in the file is no big deal, it's
a bit more of a deal if you have to stream them all to every client in order
to check whether that client typed in the correct password.

How "can" I isn't too hard to figure out... how "should" I is a bit harder.
BTW... you shouldn't store anybody's "age" it changes every year and you
won't know when.

Tom

[Cor]

How "can" I isn't too hard to figure out... how "should" I is a bit harder. BTW... you shouldn't store anybody's "age" it changes every year and you
won't know when.

ROFL

[Crirus]

It is for server side pourpose

--
Ceers,
Crirus

------------------------------
If work were a good thing, the boss would take it all from you

------------------------------

"Tom Leylan" <ge*@iamtiredofspam.com> wrote in message
news:X%********************@twister.nyc.rr.com...

"Crirus" <Cr****@datagroup.ro> wrote...

I have about 1000 records of users to store.. I dont like the ideea of a
database server...
Hi again,

You received some interesting answers and I think we can see why you
wouldn't want to setup and maintain SQLServer for 1000 records but I'd

like to suggest that you explain the "purpose" it makes such difference in the
responses you will get.

I see later on you wrote "firstname, lastname, age... username, password"
and such. So it sounds like a database for keeping track of users. Is this sitting on a server (for use by the server) or is the client software going to perform the verification?

If it's on the server loading all the names in the file is no big deal, it's a bit more of a deal if you have to stream them all to every client in order to check whether that client typed in the correct password.

How "can" I isn't too hard to figure out... how "should" I is a bit harder. BTW... you shouldn't store anybody's "age" it changes every year and you
won't know when.

Tom

[Cor]

Crirus

It is for server side pourpose

Than I don't see any benefit for a XML file.

A XML file is primary ment to transport data, not in first place to hold it.
(Although you can do that)

Cor

[Fergus Cooney]

Hi Cor,

|| Than I don't see any benefit for a XML file.

Simplicity for one. What's simpler than a text file sitting on
a hard drive? Loading and saving it is almost a one-liner.

|| A XML file is primary ment to transport data, not
|| in first place to hold it. (Although you can do that)

Surely not!?? SOAP is for transport. Xml just happens to be
what SOAP contains. There's a whole language (XSLT) devoted
to manipulating Xml data. And there's the Xml DOM. What are
these both for, if not because Xml is all about data?

I'd say that Xml's primary purpose is to hold data. And that it's
also handy for transporting it! ;-))

Regards,
Fergus

[Cor]

Ok Fergus,

I take this

Simplicity for one. What's simpler than a text file sitting on
a hard drive? Loading and saving it is almost a one-liner.

Of course you can use XML to store data, but not when it is subject of
frequently changes and certainly not when more than one process in a time
has to do updates on it.

By instance when you have to change somebody's age or whatever, you have to
disconnect your process a while, just because you have to delete it and save
it again, you cannot do partential updates on a XML file, reading and
writing is a streaming process.

Cor

[Fergus Cooney]

Hi Cor,

|| Of course you can use XML to store data, but not when it is
|| subject of frequently changes and certainly not when more
|| than one process in a time has to do updates on it.
||
|| By instance when you have to change somebody's age or
|| whatever, you have to disconnect your process a while, just
|| because you have to delete it and save it again, you cannot
|| do partential updates on a XML file, reading and writing is
|| a streaming process.

And I take this ;-)

Yes there's management involved. It's still a viable solution with
low-volumes - size of database and number of accesses.

In Crirus's case, for instance, he's only got c1000 users and the
record size is small so we're not talking seconds per update - more
like number of updates per second, I'd guess. And as it's unlikely
that they will all be on at once, let alone accessing their info, the clash
between simultaneous readers and writers is going to be pretty rare.

I wouldn't say this if the actual game-play data were stored in this
table though.

I reckon that eventually there will be enough users, and the record
size will expand as more fields are added, such that another solution is
required. But for now, I would say that Xml is a simple solution that
could help reach the production deadline.

Regards,
Fergus

[Cor]

Hi Fergus,

Problem for me is, that I tried it once in that way.

I think MSDE or MS Access will be better in this case.

But when he does not want either one of those, than XML is one of the best
from the worst.

But when Crirus wants to do it, he sure has to make it in this way.

ds.xmlread(xmlfile)
rename xmlfile
do some stuff
ds.xmlwrite(xmlfile)
delete renamed xmlfile

I have some expirience with it :-)))

(Did you see that genealogic website of my, it is all build on this
solution).

Cor

[Crirus]

Well, I dont think I will modify the xml too often, only few times a day, as
some new player create an account...more, I will search in it for pass
validationg and stuffs

"Fergus Cooney" <fi****@post.com> wrote in message
news:eW*************@TK2MSFTNGP12.phx.gbl...

Hi Cor,

|| Of course you can use XML to store data, but not when it is
|| subject of frequently changes and certainly not when more
|| than one process in a time has to do updates on it.
||
|| By instance when you have to change somebody's age or
|| whatever, you have to disconnect your process a while, just
|| because you have to delete it and save it again, you cannot
|| do partential updates on a XML file, reading and writing is
|| a streaming process.

And I take this ;-)

Yes there's management involved. It's still a viable solution with
low-volumes - size of database and number of accesses.

In Crirus's case, for instance, he's only got c1000 users and the
record size is small so we're not talking seconds per update - more
like number of updates per second, I'd guess. And as it's unlikely
that they will all be on at once, let alone accessing their info, the clash between simultaneous readers and writers is going to be pretty rare.

I wouldn't say this if the actual game-play data were stored in this
table though.

I reckon that eventually there will be enough users, and the record
size will expand as more fields are added, such that another solution is
required. But for now, I would say that Xml is a simple solution that
could help reach the production deadline.

Regards,
Fergus

[Tom Leylan]

"Crirus" <Cr****@hotmail.com> wrote...

Well, I dont think I will modify the xml too often, only few times a day, as some new player create an account...more, I will search in it for pass
validationg and stuffs

You really (probably) don't want to use XML. It doesn't matter if you only
update a couple of times a day. If you want simple and effective then
choose the solution that has been used for decades.

Random-access fixed-length text files were designed for simple data access.
You can read/write to/from any record, you can search, you can append...
deleting is handled by adding a delete field. If you want to skip the
appending part you can simply define a block of 2000 records and if your
guess of 1000 is correct you won't overrun it.

I'll guess that today's computers can handle it since I used it effectively
on 1MHz CPUs 15 years ago. And dBASE files are exactly this format BTW with
one special header record added at the beginning.

Tom

[Cor]

Hi Tom,

This hits me.

You really (probably) don't want to use XML. It doesn't matter if you only update a couple of times a day. If you want simple and effective then
choose the solution that has been used for decades.

We agree but. XML has an advantage that is not in the database solutions
that are used for decades (not for the problem from Crirus, because that is
to simple).. XML has Complex datatypes.

If you don't know it, that means that you can name something "House" and
than divide that in elements like "kitchen", "mainroom", etc. That you can
divide again very deep. But all are always related to the parent root.

As far as I know is that in the todays databases impossible. You have to
create all seperate tables for it, with in a way complex relations using
keys.

I think the XML structure is better than the current generation databases
but I think it will be a big road to go before the databases have that
advantage also.

Just a thought of me which I have for a long time.

Cor

[Tom Leylan]

"Cor" <no*@non.com> wrote...

Hi Tom,
This hits me.
It was unintentional I assure you :-)
If you don't know it, that means that you can name something "House" and
than divide that in elements like "kitchen", "mainroom", etc. That you can
divide again very deep. But all are always related to the parent root.
Sure... it does a fine job of representing data.
As far as I know is that in the todays databases impossible. You have to
create all seperate tables for it, with in a way complex relations using
keys.
There are object-oriented database servers. But the reason that relational
databases work like they do (and not like XML) is that they are relational
databases and not XML :-)
I think the XML structure is better than the current generation databases
but I think it will be a big road to go before the databases have that
advantage also.

The concepts have been around for a very long time. It has now been defined
using SGML syntax and has gained acceptance but it is doubtful that any kind
of XML formatting will "replace" relational databases. It wouldn't be
unlike suggesting that a CPU should operate on a base 10 numbering system
because humans find it easier. As long as the output can be formatted as
XML it doesn't much matter what is happening inside the box.

In any case the task that Crirus has outlined doesn't warrant it. It is a
simple case solved by a random-access file. He can use XML but it should
operate faster, be easier, cost less or have some other benefit to warrant
the effort. He can even change his mind once he has it operating...

Tom

[Crirus]

Well, I started with the XML ideea...mainly because I make my money from
creating XML documents on the firm I work for... This is a home project,
with firm backup if is succesfull :D

And I could edit that xml's by hand any time I like, so it's more flexible.

Meantime, I have some questions related to DataSet....

How can I filter records on a table...I tryed MyTable.Select("FirstName=a")
but seems that doesnt kors, it say there is no column named "a"

Should I use 'a'?

Is there a compliance with WHERE clause of an sql query in this?

--
Ceers,
Crirus

------------------------------
If work were a good thing, the boss would take it all from you

------------------------------

"Tom Leylan" <ge*@iamtiredofspam.com> wrote in message
news:ms********************@twister.nyc.rr.com...

"Cor" <no*@non.com> wrote...

Hi Tom,
This hits me.
It was unintentional I assure you :-)

If you don't know it, that means that you can name something "House" and
than divide that in elements like "kitchen", "mainroom", etc. That you can divide again very deep. But all are always related to the parent root.

Sure... it does a fine job of representing data.

As far as I know is that in the todays databases impossible. You have to
create all seperate tables for it, with in a way complex relations using
keys.

There are object-oriented database servers. But the reason that

relational databases work like they do (and not like XML) is that they are relational
databases and not XML :-)

I think the XML structure is better than the current generation databases but I think it will be a big road to go before the databases have that
advantage also.
The concepts have been around for a very long time. It has now been

defined using SGML syntax and has gained acceptance but it is doubtful that any kind of XML formatting will "replace" relational databases. It wouldn't be
unlike suggesting that a CPU should operate on a base 10 numbering system
because humans find it easier. As long as the output can be formatted as
XML it doesn't much matter what is happening inside the box.

In any case the task that Crirus has outlined doesn't warrant it. It is a
simple case solved by a random-access file. He can use XML but it should
operate faster, be easier, cost less or have some other benefit to warrant
the effort. He can even change his mind once he has it operating...

Tom

[Crirus]

Hehe

Thanks, Jay, I just found that myself and reading now...

--
Ceers,
Crirus

------------------------------
If work were a good thing, the boss would take it all from you

------------------------------

"Jay B. Harlow [MVP - Outlook]" <Ja********@email.msn.com> wrote in message
news:%2****************@TK2MSFTNGP12.phx.gbl...

Crirus,

How can I filter records on a table...I tryed MyTable.Select("FirstName=a")

but seems that doesnt kors, it say there is no column named "a"
Should I use 'a'?

Yes.

MyTable.Select("FirstName='a'")

The best list I know of (only list I know of) that identifies what is
supported in any Expression in ADO.NET is:

http://msdn.microsoft.com/library/de...ssionTopic.asp
Hope this helps
Jay
"Crirus" <Cr****@datagroup.ro> wrote in message
news:Og**************@tk2msftngp13.phx.gbl...

Well, I started with the XML ideea...mainly because I make my money from
creating XML documents on the firm I work for... This is a home project,
with firm backup if is succesfull :D

And I could edit that xml's by hand any time I like, so it's more flexible.

Meantime, I have some questions related to DataSet....

How can I filter records on a table...I tryed

MyTable.Select("FirstName=a")

but seems that doesnt kors, it say there is no column named "a"

Should I use 'a'?

Is there a compliance with WHERE clause of an sql query in this?

--
Ceers,
Crirus

------------------------------
If work were a good thing, the boss would take it all from you

------------------------------

"Tom Leylan" <ge*@iamtiredofspam.com> wrote in message
news:ms********************@twister.nyc.rr.com...

"Cor" <no*@non.com> wrote...
> Hi Tom,
> This hits me.

It was unintentional I assure you :-)

> If you don't know it, that means that you can name something "House" and > than divide that in elements like "kitchen", "mainroom", etc. That you

can

> divide again very deep. But all are always related to the parent

root.
Sure... it does a fine job of representing data.

> As far as I know is that in the todays databases impossible. You have to > create all seperate tables for it, with in a way complex relations using > keys.

There are object-oriented database servers. But the reason that relational

databases work like they do (and not like XML) is that they are relational databases and not XML :-)

> I think the XML structure is better than the current generation

databases

> but I think it will be a big road to go before the databases have

that > advantage also.

The concepts have been around for a very long time. It has now been

defined

using SGML syntax and has gained acceptance but it is doubtful that

any kind

of XML formatting will "replace" relational databases. It wouldn't be
unlike suggesting that a CPU should operate on a base 10 numbering

system because humans find it easier. As long as the output can be formatted as XML it doesn't much matter what is happening inside the box.

In any case the task that Crirus has outlined doesn't warrant it. It

is a simple case solved by a random-access file. He can use XML but it should operate faster, be easier, cost less or have some other benefit to warrant the effort. He can even change his mind once he has it operating...

Tom

[Tom Leylan]

"Crirus" <Cr****@datagroup.ro> wrote...

Well, I started with the XML ideea...mainly because I make my money from
creating XML documents on the firm I work for... This is a home project,
with firm backup if is succesfull :D
Using what you are familiar with is always a good idea.
And I could edit that xml's by hand any time I like, so it's more flexible.
Just so you know you can edit a random access file by hand also but again
whatever works for you is the best choice..
Is there a compliance with WHERE clause of an sql query in this?

I don't know but I assume there is.

[Jay B. Harlow [MVP - Outlook]]

Crirus,

How can I filter records on a table...I tryed MyTable.Select("FirstName=a") but seems that doesnt kors, it say there is no column named "a"
Should I use 'a'? Yes.

MyTable.Select("FirstName='a'")

The best list I know of (only list I know of) that identifies what is
supported in any Expression in ADO.NET is:

http://msdn.microsoft.com/library/de...ssionTopic.asp

Hope this helps
Jay
"Crirus" <Cr****@datagroup.ro> wrote in message
news:Og**************@tk2msftngp13.phx.gbl... Well, I started with the XML ideea...mainly because I make my money from
creating XML documents on the firm I work for... This is a home project,
with firm backup if is succesfull :D

And I could edit that xml's by hand any time I like, so it's more flexible.
Meantime, I have some questions related to DataSet....

How can I filter records on a table...I tryed MyTable.Select("FirstName=a") but seems that doesnt kors, it say there is no column named "a"

Should I use 'a'?

Is there a compliance with WHERE clause of an sql query in this?

--
Ceers,
Crirus

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If work were a good thing, the boss would take it all from you

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"Tom Leylan" <ge*@iamtiredofspam.com> wrote in message
news:ms********************@twister.nyc.rr.com...

"Cor" <no*@non.com> wrote...

Hi Tom,
This hits me.

It was unintentional I assure you :-)

If you don't know it, that means that you can name something "House" and than divide that in elements like "kitchen", "mainroom", etc. That you can divide again very deep. But all are always related to the parent root.

Sure... it does a fine job of representing data.

As far as I know is that in the todays databases impossible. You have to create all seperate tables for it, with in a way complex relations using keys.

There are object-oriented database servers. But the reason that

relational

databases work like they do (and not like XML) is that they are relational

databases and not XML :-)

I think the XML structure is better than the current generation databases but I think it will be a big road to go before the databases have that
advantage also.

The concepts have been around for a very long time. It has now been

defined

using SGML syntax and has gained acceptance but it is doubtful that any

kind

of XML formatting will "replace" relational databases. It wouldn't be
unlike suggesting that a CPU should operate on a base 10 numbering

system because humans find it easier. As long as the output can be formatted as XML it doesn't much matter what is happening inside the box.

In any case the task that Crirus has outlined doesn't warrant it. It is a simple case solved by a random-access file. He can use XML but it should operate faster, be easier, cost less or have some other benefit to warrant the effort. He can even change his mind once he has it operating...

Tom