As an example of #1 above, I created an attribute called "datatype" on several elements in the structure I was mapping. I mapped the datatype at design time, based on the information the database exposed. Notice in the attached screen shot how I expanded the source column to view the database type information. I've also attached the BizComp that generated this data from an Oracle database. Here's the output:

<items>
<item>
<ORDERID datatype="number">20035</ORDERID>
<PRODUCTID datatype="number">34</PRODUCTID>
<UNITPRICE datatype="number">27.25</UNITPRICE>
<QUANTITY>5</QUANTITY>
<DISCOUNT>0.05</DISCOUNT>
</item>
<item>
<ORDERID datatype="number">20036</ORDERID>
<PRODUCTID datatype="number">14</PRODUCTID>
<UNITPRICE datatype="number">23.25</UNITPRICE>
<QUANTITY>2</QUANTITY>
<DISCOUNT>0.05</DISCOUNT>
</item>
</items>

Notice the datatype attribute in the first three data elements. I typed these into the field in the SQL BizComp wizard mapping screen. I'm attaching a picture of that screen.

Hope this helps!