Method and system for translating data associated with a relational database

The invention relates generally to a method and system for translating data between a hierarchical data structure and a generally tabular data structure for storage in a relational database. A method and system for preparing hierarchical textual file for storage in a relational database allows the user to use readily available commands for querying and manipulating stored in a relational database. A generally tabular data structure contains data attribute fields associated with corresponding data element fields. Hierarchical textual file is accepted containing structured data elements. The data attributes are determined. The data attributes are associated with corresponding structured data elements of the accepted hierarchical textual file. The determined data attributes are stored in the generally tabular data structure of the relational database.