Linking to an outside DB (1 Viewer)

[juliebme]

Linking to an outside database is very simple... But the programmer I am working with gave me a database to link to. The data inside each record is an XML string. & wants me to pull the data out this way. If you give me an email address, I can email you the actual database. (16KB)
Thanks. Julie
julie@acsworld.net

 

[Alexandre]

What do you mean by this way? As strings? I am not sure where your problem lies.
Expand a bit, and eventually send me your db.

Alex

 

[juliebme]

I just emailed you the database and a more detailed description. Let me know if you need more info.

Thanks.

Julie

 

[Alexandre]

Julie,

I had a look at your DB. Your 'documents' are not trivial
data aggregates. They are actual XML documents. Make the
following experiment: selects the whole content of a
document (F2 key) copy it, paste it to the notepad and save
it with the extension .XML. Then open it through ie5/6.

As you may know XML is likely to become a fundamental standard
for data exchange and new generation 'inteligent' internet
content.
As such, it is already supported by Access 2002.
So if you have A2k2, have a look to XML compliance features.
If you don t, you may be interested in knowing more about its XML compliance and eventually upgrade: http://office.microsoft.com/assistance/2002/articles/acExOfS
cenariosUsingXML.aspx

Otherwise, you will have to parse XTML into your relational
db. Writing your own parser in VBA is feasable, but not
trivial, especially if the XTML documents do not reflect a
single table but a various related ones. And it seems to be
the case from the look I had to their structure.
You should first look after info from MS. Here are a few
pointers:

• http://msdn.microsoft.com/library/default.asp?url=/library/en-us/xmlsql/ac_openxml_1jsf.asp
• <A HREF="http://msdn.microsoft.com/library/default.asp?" TARGET=_blank>http://msdn.microsoft.com/library/default.asp?url=/library/en-
  us/cpguide/html/cpconxmlintegrationwithrelationaldataadonet.asp </A>
• http://msdn.microsoft.com/library/default.asp?url=/library/en-us/xmlsdk30/htm/xmcongettingthexmldata.asp
• http://msdn.microsoft.com/library/default.asp?url=/library/en-us/wp/htm/xmlintegrationinado.asp

If no success look after free/shareware parser. A few
pointers again:

• http://www.rpbourret.com/xml/XMLDatabaseProds.htm
• http://www.rpbourret.com/xmldbms/index.htm

If no other possibility, you may have to do some reading on
XML representation of relational databases, and try to
write a parser:

http://www.w3.org/XML/RDB.html http://www.xmlpitstop.com/default.asp?DataType=XMLTUT

Hope this will help

Alex

[This message has been edited by Alexandre (edited 03-05-2002).]

[This message has been edited by Alexandre (edited 03-05-2002).]