17. A computer implemented method to access a computer-implemented structure for storing XML data in a relational database, the computer implemented structure comprising a first table structure, the first table structure comprising a document identifier corresponding to an XML document and a path string for a node within the XML document, the method comprising: generating a SQL query against the computer-implemented structure by using at least one processor; and producing a result set based upon executing the SQL query, wherein the path string for a node in the computer implemented structure stored in a volatile or non-volatile computer usable storage medium that is accessed during execution of the SQL query, and wherein the path string comprises a full path for the node from a root node of the XML document.
18. The method of claim 17 in which the SQL query reconstructs the XML document.