25. A system for inserting hierarchical data into a relational table, comprising: a schema stored in a memory for a hierarchical data structure wherein the schema defines a hierarchical relationship of data elements; processing means coupled to said memory for inserting data from the hierarchical data structure into a row of a relational table in a relational database; and processing means for generating an identification number and inserting the identification number into a field in the row of the relational table when the schema provides an annotation indicative of the insertion of an identification number.
28. The system as recited in claim 25 wherein the schema comprises an XML schema definition (XSD).