Abstract: Users and programmers can load semi-structured hierarchical data, such as XML data, of arbitrary size and structure into relational database tables using an schema such as an SQL-annotated XML schema. The schema describes how XML data maps into base tables and fields, including complex one-to-many and many-to-many relationships. The hierarchical data is streamed into the relational database tables in a single operation.

Abstract: Methods and computer-readable media for binding a query containing one or more multi-part identifiers in a database. An attempt is made to bind a multi-part identifier that has at least one part to any data in a database that corresponds to the part. A score that is proportional to the number of parts that bind successfully in each multi-part identifier binding attempt is generated for each unsuccessful binding attempt. A result is outputted if one successful identifier binding occurred, while a first error message is outputted if more than one successful binding occurred. A second error message corresponding to the multi-part identifier binding attempt having a highest score is outputted if no successful bindings occurred.

Abstract: Pursuant to receipt of a data modification command or statement, such as an Update command, it is determined which fields in a data structure, such as a UDT, computed column, indexed view, or index, for example, will be changed as a result of the command. Only those fields that are affected by the command will be changed. Thus, changes are propagated to only to those dependent data structures whose content is being modified. Tree representations are used to facilitate the determination as to whether a subfield in a hierarchy is changed.

Abstract: Several embodiments of the present invention are directed to systems and methods for extending the UDT framework of an extended relational data store (ERDS) to include support for unordered collections (multisets) and ordered collection (lists). More specifically, several embodiments of the present invention use an UDT infrastructure, CLR generics, and a new UNNEST operator to create and utilize a special type abstraction for collections that is simultaneously a scalar and a relation. As a scalar, this collection type can be processed by all parts of the data store engine that understand scalars (including but not limited to the client stack) and, as a relation, this collection type is queriable like any other type of relation.

Abstract: Users and programmers can load semi-structured hierarchical data, such as XML data, of arbitrary size and structure into relational database tables using an schema such as an SQL-annotated XML schema. The schema describes how XML data maps into base tables and fields, including complex one-to-many and many-to-many relationships. The hierarchical data is streamed into the relational database tables in a single operation.