Dynamically generating an XQuery

1. A method for dynamically generating an XQuery for an XML database that stores a plurality of non-XML text documents, each non-XML text document having a corresponding shadow XML document in a collection of shadow XML documents in the XML database, wherein the collection contains the corresponding shadow XML documents on which the XQuery is to be executed, wherein each shadow XML document comprises metadata extracted from the corresponding non-XML text document and wherein the XML database is configured for executing an XQuery on the shadow XML documents and for retrieving corresponding non-XML text documents, the method comprising:

providing a FLWOR expression comprising a plurality of units of XQuery code, the plurality of units being predefined based on the non-XML text documents and comprising at least one predefined text retrieval function, wherein the FLWOR expression comprises a for clause predefined based on the shadow XML documents in the collection of shadow XML documents corresponding to the non-XML text documents, wherein the for clause indicates the collection of shadow XML documents and a doctype;

combining the one or more units with dynamic input from a user to generate the XQuery, the dynamic input from the user defining a where clause including at least one dynamically defined condition for the XQuery; and

storing the XQuery.

2. The method of claim 1 , wherein the FLWOR expression further comprises a return clause predefined based on the non-XML text documents.

3. The method of claim 1 , wherein the FLWOR expression comprises a where clause including at least one dynamically defined user criterion for the XQuery.

4. The method of claim 3 , wherein the where clause comprises a plurality of user criteria combined by logical operators.

5. The method of claim 1 , wherein the non-XML text documents comprise one or more of Microsoft Office documents or Adobe PDF documents.

6. The method of claim 5 , wherein each non-XML text document comprises free-form text and predefined text parts.

7. The method of claim 1 , wherein the method further comprises:

presenting a GUI to the user, wherein the GUI comprises one or more buttons relating to the plurality of units; and

receiving the input from the user via the GUI.

8. A non-transitory computer accessible memory medium storing program instructions for dynamically generating an XQuery for an XML database that stores a plurality of non-XML text documents, each non-XML document having a corresponding shadow XML document in a collection of shadow XML documents in the XML database, wherein the collection contains the corresponding shadow XML documents on which the XQuery is to be executed, wherein each shadow XML document comprises metadata extracted from the corresponding non-XML text document and wherein the XML database is configured for executing an XQuery on the shadow XML documents and for retrieving corresponding non-XML text documents, wherein the program instructions are executable to:

provide a FLWOR expression comprising a plurality of units of XQuery code, the plurality of units being predefined based on the non-XML text documents and comprising at least one predefined text retrieval function, wherein the FLWOR expression comprises a for clause predefined based on the shadow XML documents in the collection of shadow XML documents corresponding to the non-XML text documents, wherein the for clause indicates the collection of shadow XML documents and a doctype; and

combine the one or more units according to dynamic input from a user to generate the XQuery, the dynamic input from the user defining a where clause including at least one dynamically defined condition for the XQuery.

9. The non-transitory computer accessible memory medium of claim 8 , wherein the FLWOR expression further comprises a return clause predefined based on the non-XML text documents.

10. The non-transitory computer accessible memory medium of claim 8 , wherein the FLWOR expression comprises a where clause including at least one dynamically defined user criterion for the XQuery.

11. The non-transitory computer accessible memory medium of claim 10 , wherein the where clause comprises a plurality of user criteria combined by logical operators.

12. The non-transitory computer accessible memory medium of claim 8 , wherein the non-XML text documents comprise one or more of Microsoft Office documents or Adobe PDF documents.

13. The non-transitory computer accessible memory medium of claim 12 , wherein each non-XML text document comprises free-form text and predefined text parts.

14. The non-transitory computer accessible memory medium of claim 8 , wherein the program instructions are further executable to:

present a GUI to the user, wherein the GUI comprises one or more buttons relating to the plurality of units; and

receive the input from the user via the GUI.

15. A system, comprising:

a processor;

a display coupled to the processor; and

a memory medium storing program instructions for dynamically generating an XQuery for an XML database that stores a plurality of non-XML text documents, each non-XML document having a corresponding shadow XML document in a collection of shadow XML documents in the XML database, wherein the collection contains the corresponding shadow XML documents on which the XQuery is to be executed, wherein each shadow XML document comprises metadata extracted from the corresponding non-XML text document and wherein the XML database is configured for executing an XQuery on the shadow XML documents and for retrieving corresponding non-XML text documents, wherein the program instructions are executable by the processor to:

present a GUI to the user, wherein the GUI comprises one or more buttons relating to providing a FLWOR expression comprising a plurality of units of XQuery code, the plurality of units being predefined based on the shadow XML documents and comprising at least one predefined text retrieval function, wherein the FLWOR expression comprises a for clause predefined based on the collection of shadow XML documents corresponding to the non-XML text documents, wherein the for clause indicates the collection of shadow XML documents and a doctype; and

receive user input to the GUI, wherein the user input defines a where clause including at least one dynamically defined condition for the XQuery; and

combine the one or more units according to the user input to generate the XQuery.

16. The system of claim 15 , wherein the FLWOR expression comprises a where clause including at least one dynamically defined user criterion for the XQuery.