Flexible handling of datetime XML datatype in a database system

A computer-readable storage medium, the computer-readable storage medium storing instructions for managing XML data within a database system which, when processed by one or more processors, causes the one or more processors to perform the following steps, comprising:

• a database server receiving a XML schema;
• wherein said XML schema includes:
• a certain declaration of a XML date-time type, and
• a certain annotation associated with said certain declaration, said certain annotation specifying an aspect of a database representation of said XML date-time type;
• based on the XML schema, said database server determining a database representation for storing, within said database system, documents that conform to an XML schema;
• wherein said database server determining a database representation includes said database server determining, based on the certain annotation, a certain database representation for said declaration of said XML date-time type;
• and
• said database server generating mapping data that indicates correlations between said declaration of the XML date-time type and said certain database representation.