Basic Principles Data Loading Data Retrieval XPath Support XML Schemas Internationalization Database Schema API Entities API Comparison Samples

The ArcSDE XML API provides support for storing XML documents in ArcSDE and creating indexes and tags on the stored documents.

Using the XML API, the user may add a column of type SE_XML_TYPE to a table, insert XML documents into it, index the column to facilitate searches, and then search the table for XML documents that meet specific criteria. In addition to the spatial and raster columns, the user's business table will have an XML column. A user may associate XML documents with geometric shapes and rasters and execute searches on all columns.

An important application of XML support in ArcSDE is storing and searching ArcGIS metadata in ArcSDE XML documents. Thus, by pushing the storage and query of the documents inside ArcSDE, ArcIMS Metadata Server and other applications can concentrate on their application logic instead of database issues.