XML is fine for small data sets, easy enough to parse and process using Xpath (xmlSearch).
But for 5000, records I think a database would be better, it's quicker and more robust, the XML model would be more appropriate for very small datasets ie < 100 records perhaps. With XML you have to read and parse all 5000 records every time you make and addition or update. Ie: 1. Read all 5000 records from disk file 2. Parse all 5000 records 3. Modify XML object 4. Write all 5000 records to disk. There are also security / locking considerations with this Regards Dale Fraser > -----Original Message----- > From: cfaussie@googlegroups.com [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] On > Behalf Of Tom MacKean > Sent: Monday, 3 April 2006 10:51 AM > To: cfaussie@googlegroups.com > Subject: [cfaussie] OT: XML vs database > > I was all set to create a new database for an application that is > basically a contact list for doctors when I thought "Would this be better > as an XML file?". I've never used an XML file to store and retrieve data > before, but I understand the basic concept. > > Let me scope it out for you: > > * Doctors can have multiple addresses > * Addresses can have multiple doctors > * Doctors can have multiple provider numbers > * Only one person at a time needs to be able to use this application > so locking it is fine. > * It doesn't have to be particularly fast > * There will be about 5000 doctors > > It seemed to me that creating <doctor> and then having multiple <address> > and <providernumber> etc would be easier than lots of relational tables > linked by keys. > > What is everyone's opinion on using XML in this way? How easy is it to > read/filter/update data store in an XML page like this? Should I just > stick to the db? > > Tom > > > > -- > IMPORTANT: This email is intended for the use of the individual > addressee(s) named above and may contain information that is confidential > privileged or unsuitable for overly sensitive persons with low self-esteem, > no sense of humor or irrational religious beliefs. If you are not the > intended recipient, any dissemination, distribution or copying of this > email is not authorized (either explicitly or implicitly) and constitutes > an irritating social fauxpas. No animals were harmed in the transmission > of this email, although the mutt next door is living on borrowed time, let > me tell you. > > > > --~--~---------~--~----~------------~-------~--~----~ You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups "cfaussie" group. To post to this group, send email to cfaussie@googlegroups.com To unsubscribe from this group, send email to [EMAIL PROTECTED] For more options, visit this group at http://groups.google.com/group/cfaussie -~----------~----~----~----~------~----~------~--~---
