Re: xml import/export tools and performance

Ivan Sergio Borgonovo wrote:
> I know one of the exporting parties will be a MS SQL 2005 server, so
> it would be nice if there was an easy way to import xml generated
> with the FOR XML AUTO, XMLSCHEMA ('forpg').
>

Microsoft SQL Server has a pretty good data translation tool, it used to
be called DTS, but I think its called something else now... if you
install a ODBC or OLEDB Postgres driver ontp the SQL Server system, and
configure your postgres server to allow the MS SQL Server to be able to
connect to it, you can use this service to bulk transfer data between
Postgres and MS SQL Server, either full tables or specific queries.

ahh, its called SSIS now, here's a pretty good summary of it,
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/SQL_Server_Integration_Services

and some info on MS's webpile about it...
http://www.microsoft.com/sqlserver/2005/en/us/integration-services.aspx
http://technet.microsoft.com/en-us/library/cc917721.aspx

if you go this route, you don't have to mess with any sort of
import/export files, XML or otherwise, just move the data directly
between the databases over the network.

personally, I find XML is extremely inefficient. the idea of sending
the name of every field with each data record just seems like a bad
idea. you end up with more metadata than actual data.