How to convert data stored in XML files into a relational database (MySQL)?

Question

I have a few XML files containing data for a research project which I need to run some statistics on. The amount of data is close to 100GB.

The structure is not so complex (could be mapped to perhaps 10 tables in a relational model), and given the nature of the problem, this data will never be updated again, I only need it available in a place where it's easy to run queries on.

I've read about XML databases, and the possibility of running XPATH-style queries on it, but I never used them and I'm not so comfortable with it. Having the data in a relational database would be my preferred choice.

So, I'm looking for a way to covert the data stored in XML into a relational database (think of a big .sql file similar to the one generated by mysqldump, but anything else would do). The ultimate goal is to be able to run SQL queries for crunching the data.

After some research I'm almost convinced I have to write it on my own. But I feel this is a common problem, and therefore there should be a tool which already does that.

So, do you know of any tool that would transform XML data into a relational database?

PS1:

My idea would be something like (it can work differently, but just to make sure you get my point):

1. Analyse the data structure (based on the XML themselves, or on a XSD)
2. Build the relational database (tables, keys) based on that structure
3. Generate SQL statements to create the database
4. Generate SQL statements to create fill in the data

PS2:

I've seen some posts here in SO but still I couldn't find a solution. Microsoft's "Xml Bulk Load" tool seems to do something in that direction, but I don't have a MS SQL Server.

Answer 1

Databases are not the only way to search data. I can highly recommend Apache Solr

• Strategies to Implement search on XML file

Keep your raw data as XML and search it using the Solr index