How can I use the Zoomify Annotation System with my database backend?
The simplest and optimal approach for integrating the Zoomify Annotation System with a database backend is to continue to rely on the built-in XML loading support in the Annotation System for viewing purposes, but to use your database for master storage purposes. That is, should an annotation author post changes to the annotations of an image via the Annotation System, these changes can be posted to the database which would then recreate the XML and overwrite it. All other annotation access would be via the XML, with read requests being fulfilled by the web server as usual. This approach minimizes impacts on the database server and simplifies system setup and development.
