56. The system of claim 54 , in which the node data comprises a start position, end position, node type, or node value.
54. A system 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, a path string for a node within the XML document, hierarchical information for the node, and node data for the node, the method comprising: means for generating a SQL query against the computer-implemented structure; and means for 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.