mr.dunstan,
I have used DBIx::XML_RDB successfully at work, where we used Oracle. Unfortunately, i no longer work at that place, and they seized my computer before i could save anything.

What i can offer you is this - you are *this* close - the ??? is the name of the database you wish to use. I can't test this, but according to the docs for DBD::Oracle and the code for DBIx::XML_RDB, this should connect:

my $xmlout = new DBIx::XML_RDB("Oracle:$dbname",$user,$passwd);

# this works for MySQL - i know, i know . . . but still . . .
my $xmlout = new DBIx::XML_RDB(qw(database:host driver usr passwd));
[download]

Even in my DBIx::XML_RDB Tutorial, i mentioned that i had to play with the connection string to get it to work. Why? Because i think the author made a small mistake: he creates the connection string inside the module instead of just passing it off to the appropriate driver module verbatim:

$self->{dbh} = DBI->connect("dbi:$driver:". $self->{datasource}, $user
+id, $password);

#instead of simply
$self->{dbh} = DBI->connect(@_);    # should i offer a patch?
[download]

Keep playing, you'll get it. And when you do, please reply to this node with your answer so that others may benefit.

Jeff

R-R-R--R-R-R--R-R-R--R-R-R--R-R-R--
L-L--L-L--L-L--L-L--L-L--L-L--L-L--