SQLYoga: May 2013

May 6, 2013

SQL Yoga – Read XML with T-SQL statement in SQL SERVER

In my previous post, “XML Result sets with SQL Server”, we review to generate result sets in XML from SQL server. Then I got a comment from the team, to also have post to read XML in SQL Server.

To read XML in SQL server, is also simple. Lets read the XML which is created by XML PATH in previous post.

Read XML Elements with T-SQL:

DECLARE @SQLYoga TABLE(
    ID INT IDENTITY,
    Data VARCHAR(50),
    CreatedDate DATETIME DEFAULT(GETDATE()),
    CreatedBy INT
    )
INSERT INTO @SQLYoga(Data)
SELECT 'SQLYoga'
UNION ALL
SELECT 'Tejas Shah'
UNION ALL
SELECT 'Generate XML'

DECLARE @xml XML
SELECT @xml = (
        SELECT    *
        FROM    @SQLYoga
        FOR XML PATH('Record'), ROOT('Records')
    )
SELECT @xml

Now, please find query to read the query to read XML generated above:

SELECT

        x.v.value('ID[1]', 'INT') AS ID,
        x.v.value('Data[1]', 'VARCHAR(50)') As Data,
        x.v.value('CreatedDate[1]', 'DATETIME') AS CreatedDate
FROM    @xml.nodes('/Records/Record') x(v)

This query generates the output as follows:

That’s it. It is much simple and you can get rid of the complex coding in application. Let me know your comments or issues you are facing while working on this.

Reference: Tejas Shah (www.SQLYoga.com)

May 3, 2013

SQLYoga – XML Result sets with SQL Server

Recently, found that people making much complex code to have an XML in application. I have found that they return result set in Table to the application and have applied code to convert that data table to XML by Asp. Net application. When I review the process, I have suggested that why don’t you use the XML feature of the application. They surprised the simple use of it and make their life easy. Let me have sample query to generate XML result sets in SQL Server database.

There are two ways to have an XML from query:
1. FOR XML RAW
2. FOR XML PATH

Please find following sample queries where both of the way are being used:

Lets create sample data

Generate XML with XML ROW

SELECT *
FROM @SQLYoga
FOR XML RAW, ROOT('Records')

XML RAW, returns the XML by each record with row element and all columns as attributes in the XML.

Generate XML with XML PATH

SELECT *
FROM @SQLYoga
FOR XML PATH('Record'), ROOT('Records')

XML PATH, returns the XML by each record with separate element and also columns as element within respected element of the record.

That’s it. It is much simple and you can get rid of the complex coding in application. Let me know your comments or issues you are facing while working on this.

Reference: Tejas Shah (www.SQLYoga.com)