I have a peculiar implementation request for an XML file, which contains a relational model, which wich will be created by concatenating strings with SQL and writing the string to a file that will be saved as a .XML file.

The request is to place the relations embeded in the midle of a set as follows:

<Customer>
     <Name>John</Name>
     <Address>123 main</Address>
          <Orders>
                <OrderID>1001</OrderID>
                <ProductID>21</ProductID>
          </Orders>
     <LastName>Doe</LastName>
</Customer>


Our Implementation is as follows:

<Customer>
     <Name>John</Name>
     <Address>123 main</Address>
     <LastName>Doe</LastName>
          <Orders>
                <OrderID>1001</OrderID>
                <ProductID>21</ProductID>
          </Orders>
</Customer>

Notice that the related information is at the end of the set, breaking the <Customer/> in the middle of the set instead of at the end.

Is there a standard for this?

ADO.NET allows for insertion of mapped relations, but this relations are set to the end of <Customer/>. SQL Server does the same when a relation is created with an UNION statement:

I have researched over 10 manuals and countless web sites to include the W3c and the implementations that I find do the relations as I showed them. At the end of <Customer/> .

Is this request whithin an acceptable standard? Is there a tool that does the relation in the midle of the set?

Please help as I have been unable to find an answer.

Thanks.

Sal



Sal

__________________
Sal

Using a DTD you can have ID and IDREFS, using schema you have key and keyref. SQL Server's FOR XML supports the former.

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Joe (Microsoft MVP - XML)