by Sheila Zhang

Using Microsoft’s SQL Server 2012 makes querying with XML a lot easier.  Microsoft’s SQL Server allows you to create XML with a SQL query or shred XML into a data table format.  I have shared with you below examples of achieving this query process faster.

When you use the "FOR XML" clause in the "SELECT- T_SQL" statement, you convert a query record set to XML.  It is that simple.

For example, by querying the following statement:

Also, by adding "for XML raw" to the end of the previous statement:

the returned row-sets convert every row to a single element named "row," and the columns translate to the attributes of this element, like this:

While this example appears as true XML, I actually need to include an additional level of nesting.  For example, I use the following statement  to incorporate nesting orders for each customer:

Another option is to use PATH as shown here:

I hope you find these basic methods of returning data output in XML format useful. Look for an upcoming blog post on producing complex output in XML format.

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