A computer implemented method is provided for extracting hierarchical data
from one or more tables in a database, the method comprises firstly
receiving user input identifying, one or more tables in the database that
contain the hierarchical data and the hierarchical structure of the
hierarchical data. A Structured Query Language (SQL) statement is then
generated using the user input received. The SQL statement is presented
to the database for execution and the hierarchical data are then
extracted from the database in response to the execution of the SQL
statement.