RE: [xml-dev] XML vs relational database

> In a relational database, a standard query 
> allows to retreive data, but does not allow to investigate 
> the design of the database 

Not true. The SQL standard defines a standard set of tables that hold
metadata, ie. information about tables and columns. At any rate, it did so
about 20 years ago which was the last time I looked.

Michael Kay
http://www.saxonica.com/