SQL SERVER – Tips from the SQL Joes 2 Pros Development Series – Using Root With Auto XML Mode – Day 32 of 35

Answer simple quiz at the end of the blog post and –

Every day one winner from India will get Joes 2 Pros Volume 5.

Every day one winner from United States will get Joes 2 Pros Volume 5.

XML Path Mode

The XML Raw and Auto modes are great for displaying data as all attributes or all elements – but not both at once. If you want your XML stream to have some of its data shown in attributes and some shown as elements, then you can use the XML Path mode.

The following Select statement shows us all locations and the employees who work in each location. There are 13 matching records in this inner join between the Location and Employee tables. The Location table is aliased “Loc”, and the Employee table is aliased “Emp.”  Recall that in SQL the AS keyword is recommended when aliasing tables, but it is optional in this figure we alias the Location table as Loc and the Employee table as Emp while omitting the optional AS keyword.

SQL SERVER - Tips from the SQL Joes 2 Pros Development Series - Using Root With Auto XML Mode - Day 32 of 35 j2p_32_1

Let’s stream this query in an XML mode, called Path. Much like Raw and Auto, each top level element has tag named “row” and by default there is no root element.  However, unlike the previous modes we’ve seen, the Path mode defaults to putting all its data in elements.

SQL SERVER - Tips from the SQL Joes 2 Pros Development Series - Using Root With Auto XML Mode - Day 32 of 35 j2p_32_2

SQL SERVER - Tips from the SQL Joes 2 Pros Development Series - Using Root With Auto XML Mode - Day 32 of 35 j2p_32_3

Now we’ll itemize the fields in our query. The result appears much the same. We see “row” as the default name of the opening and closing tags.  We also see nested within each “row”, elements for each of the three fields we itemized in our query (City, FirstName, LastName).

SQL SERVER - Tips from the SQL Joes 2 Pros Development Series - Using Root With Auto XML Mode - Day 32 of 35 j2p_32_4

SQL SERVER - Tips from the SQL Joes 2 Pros Development Series - Using Root With Auto XML Mode - Day 32 of 35 j2p_32_5

Our next goal is to modify our SQL query, so that our XML result will include an <Employees> root tag.

SQL SERVER - Tips from the SQL Joes 2 Pros Development Series - Using Root With Auto XML Mode - Day 32 of 35 j2p_32_6

We simply need to modify our FOR XML Path clause to include ROOT(‘Employees’). In the result, we see that we now have our root, which is called “Employees”

SQL SERVER - Tips from the SQL Joes 2 Pros Development Series - Using Root With Auto XML Mode - Day 32 of 35 j2p_32_7

The root element <Employees> is now visible in our XML Path stream. Let’s change our current stream to have each top level element tagged as <Employee> instead of <row>. Our stream is looking much more readable and organized.

SQL SERVER - Tips from the SQL Joes 2 Pros Development Series - Using Root With Auto XML Mode - Day 32 of 35 j2p_32_8

SQL SERVER - Tips from the SQL Joes 2 Pros Development Series - Using Root With Auto XML Mode - Day 32 of 35 j2p_32_9

Custom Attributes

If you are using an XML Path stream, then by default all of the values will be shown as elements. However, you can pick one or more of your elements to instead be shown as an attribute(s). Use the [@Fieldname] syntax to do this.

Our next goal is to move City inside the <Employee> tag as an attribute (see figure below).  The [@Fieldname] construct will help us accomplish this.

SQL SERVER - Tips from the SQL Joes 2 Pros Development Series - Using Root With Auto XML Mode - Day 32 of 35 j2p_32_10

To make our code reflect this change, all we need to do is alias the City field as @City.  (For illustrative purposes, we will alias the attribute as “CityName” instead of “City.”  Just as when we have previously aliased fields and tables in our SQL queries, with our XML queries we also have the freedom to alias the field City using any name we choose.) One easy way to think of this code syntax is to remember that @ (a.k.a., the “at” sign) goes with “ATtributes”.

SQL SERVER - Tips from the SQL Joes 2 Pros Development Series - Using Root With Auto XML Mode - Day 32 of 35 j2p_32_11

SQL SERVER - Tips from the SQL Joes 2 Pros Development Series - Using Root With Auto XML Mode - Day 32 of 35 j2p_32_12

Note: If you want to setup the sample JProCo database on your system you can watch this video. For this post you will want to run the SQLInteropChapter1.0Setup.sql script from Volume 5.

Question 32

You need to generate the following XML document from your CurrentProducts table:

<ProductExport>
<Product Price=”99″>Product1</Product>
<Product Price=”199″>Product2</Product>
<Product Price=”299″>Product3</Product>
<Product Price=”399″>Product4</Product>
</ProductExport>

Which query should you use?

  1. SELECT Price, ProductName
    FROM CurrentProducts AS ProductExport
    FOR XML PATH(‘Product’)
  2. SELECT Price, ProductName
    FROM CurrentProducts
    FOR XML AUTO, ROOT(‘ProductExport’)
  3. SELECT Price [@Price], ProductName AS [*] FROM CurrentProducts AS ProductExport
    FOR XML AUTO, ELEMENTS
  4. SELECT Price [@Price], ProductName AS [*] FROM CurrentProducts
    FOR XML PATH(‘Product’), ROOT(‘ProductExport’)

Rules:

Please leave your answer in comment section below with correct option, explanation and your country of resident.
Every day one winner will be announced from United States.
Every day one winner will be announced from India.
A valid answer must contain country of residence of answerer.
Please check my facebook page for winners name and correct answer.
Every day one winner from India will get Joes 2 Pros Volume 5.
Every day one winner from United States will get Joes 2 Pros Volume 5.
The contest is open till next blog post shows up at which is next day GTM+2.5.

Reference:  Pinal Dave (https://blog.sqlauthority.com)

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53 Comments. Leave new

  • ANS : 4
    (4) SELECT Price [@Price], ProductName AS [*]
    FROM CurrentProducts
    FOR XML PATH(‘Product’), ROOT(‘ProductExport’)

    Explanation
    ===========
    DECLARE @CurrentProducts TABLE (productName VARCHAR(10),price int)
    INSERT INTO @CurrentProducts(ProductName,price) SELECT ‘Product1’,99
    INSERT INTO @CurrentProducts(ProductName,price) SELECT ‘Product2’,199
    INSERT INTO @CurrentProducts(ProductName,price) SELECT ‘Product3’,299
    INSERT INTO @CurrentProducts(ProductName,price) SELECT ‘Product4’,399

    SELECT Price [@Price], ProductName AS [*]
    FROM @CurrentProducts
    FOR XML PATH(‘Product’), ROOT(‘ProductExport’)

    Detail Explanation:
    ===============
    Root (ProductExport) – Add the Root Element ProductExport
    Path(‘Product’) – change default Row to Product.
    Using [*] -removed tag

    Mitesh Modi
    (India)

    Reply
  • Hi sir,

    correct answer is option no 4

    SELECT Price [@Price], ProductName AS [*]
    FROM CurrentProducts
    FOR XML PATH(‘Product’), ROOT(‘ProductExport’)

    which gives the following output

    Product1
    Product2
    Product3
    Product4

    Regards,
    P.Anish Shenoy
    INDIA

    Reply
  • Partha Pratim Dinda
    September 1, 2011 4:41 pm

    Ans is 4:
    SELECT Price [@Price], ProductName AS [*]
    FROM CurrentProducts
    FOR XML PATH(‘Product’), ROOT(‘ProductExport’)

    We have to make an xml with root node name ProductExport and with top level element tag Product .To do that we must have to use xml path and though the top level element tag is Product so we have to use path(‘Product’) . Now we have to add a attribute price in top level element tag so we have alias Price as [@Price] .Now we have make the root node as ProductExport.So we have to use Root(‘ProductExport’). All these criteria can be fulfill by option 4 only .
    So the correct ans is option 4.

    Partha,
    India

    Reply
  • It seems that the correct answer is Option #4

    SELECT Price [@Price], ProductName AS [*]
    FROM CurrentProducts
    FOR XML PATH(‘Product’), ROOT(‘ProductExport’)

    Explanation:

    using [@Price] Field we will get Price=”” beside Product tag.

    Using the Path(‘Product’) we will get the default Row as Product.

    Using [*] we removed tag and so our dataSet will come without an extra tag hence our XML will we in the same way as required.

    Diljeet Kumari
    Country : INDIA

    Reply
  • Geetanjali Agarwal
    September 1, 2011 4:51 pm

    Correct Answer is 4

    Explanation :

    Option 1 will not produce a ROOT Element and attribute so it is not correct

    Option 2 will consider “CurrentProducts” as TagName and all fields as attribute. Although it will create a Root Element. So this is also not correct.

    Option 3 will not create Root Element and take “ProductExport” as TagName. It also not create any attribute.

    Option 4 will create a Root Element as “ProductExport”,TagName as “Product” and will also consider “price” as attribute. So this is correct.

    Thanks,
    Geetanjali Agarwal
    India, Noida

    Reply
  • Answer is 4
    The @price construct moved priceName inside the tag as an attribute
    [*] attribute eliminated the productname tag retaining the content

    Kerala,India

    Reply
  • correct option is 4
    India

    Reply
  • Mike Michalicek
    September 1, 2011 5:45 pm

    Option #4

    USA

    Mike Michalicek

    Reply
  • 4) 4th option is correct

    JD Varu
    Ahmedabad – India

    Reply
  • Option 4 will generate the desired XML document.

    Country: United States

    Reply
  • Hi Pinal,

    Challenge:
    Question 32
    You need to generate the following XML document from your CurrentProducts table:

    Product1
    Product2
    Product3
    Product4

    Which query should you use?

    1. SELECT Price, ProductName
    FROM CurrentProducts AS ProductExport
    FOR XML PATH(‘Product’)

    2. SELECT Price, ProductName
    FROM CurrentProducts
    FOR XML AUTO, ROOT(‘ProductExport’)

    3. SELECT Price [@Price], ProductName AS [*]
    FROM CurrentProducts AS ProductExport
    FOR XML AUTO, ELEMENTS

    4. SELECT Price [@Price], ProductName AS [*]
    FROM CurrentProducts
    FOR XML PATH(‘Product’), ROOT(‘ProductExport’)

    Correct Answer:
    The correct choice is #4:
    4. SELECT Price [@Price], ProductName AS [*]
    FROM CurrentProducts
    FOR XML PATH(‘Product’), ROOT(‘ProductExport’)

    Explanation:
    Choice #1 is aliasing the table CurrentProductas as ProductExport. This won’t give a result stream with a root node of ProductExport. This choice is incorrect.

    Choice #2 provides a root node of ProductExport, but doesn’t provide the Product tag. This choice is incorrect.

    Choice #3 doesn’t provide a root node. This choice is incorrect.

    Choice #4 provides the output that was requested. This is the correct choice.

    Country:
    United States

    Thanks for the knowledge!

    Regards,

    Bill Pepping

    Reply
  • correct Answer is:
    4. SELECT Price [@Price], ProductName AS [*]
    FROM CurrentProducts
    FOR XML PATH(‘Product’), ROOT(‘ProductExport’)
    Because we want to show both attributes and elements we will use XML PATH,
    change the ROOT Node for opening and closing tags to ProductsExport. Include the @ price to add to the Products tag.

    Ron A. Farris – USA

    Reply
  • The correction is Option 4

    SELECT Price [@Price], ProductName AS [*]
    FROM CurrentProducts
    FOR XML PATH(‘Product’), ROOT(‘ProductExport’)

    Option 1 and 3 don’t state ROOT(‘ProductExport’)
    Option 2 doesn’t declare the custom attribute Price

    Country of Residence:USA

    Reply
  • The correction is Option 4

    Country of Residence:BRL

    Reply
  • Kevin Scharnhorst
    September 1, 2011 7:49 pm

    4.SELECT Price [@Price], ProductName AS [*]
    FROM CurrentProducts
    FOR XML PATH(‘Product’), ROOT(‘ProductExport’)

    Kevin Scharnhorst
    United States

    Reply
  • Option 4 is correct
    India

    Reply
  • the correct answer is option no 4 i.e.

    4. SELECT Price [@Price], ProductName AS [*]
    FROM CurrentProducts
    FOR XML PATH(‘Product’), ROOT(‘ProductExport’)

    which will give you desired output…

    India

    Reply
  • Varinder Sandhu
    September 1, 2011 9:33 pm

    Correct answer is option 4 as

    SELECT Price [@Price], ProductName AS [*]
    FROM CurrentProducts
    FOR XML PATH(‘Product’), ROOT(‘ProductExport’)

    Varinder Sandhu (India)

    Reply
  • Hi,

    The correct answer is Option 4

    SELECT Price [@Price], ProductName AS [*]
    FROM CurrentProducts
    FOR XML PATH(‘Product’), ROOT(‘ProductExport’)

    Explanation is –

    As per the question the requirements are-

    Root node name – ProductExport
    Top level element tag – Product .
    Attribute – alias Price as [@Price] .

    Thanks,
    Hema Chaudhry,
    Delhi, India

    Reply
  • The correct Option 4) SELECT Price [@Price], ProductName AS [*]
    FROM CurrentProducts
    FOR XML PATH(‘Product’), ROOT(‘ProductExport’).
    (Sale, Nigeria

    Reply

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