SELECT
1 as tag,
null as parent,
AccountNumber as 'root!1!clientID'
FROM
CustomerAccounts
WHERE
locationid = 'some-guid'
FOR XML EXPLICIT
I’ve checked the docs but can’t figure out how to get the structure I need. Any ideas on how to tweak this query to get the desired output? I’m open to other approaches too, but prefer sticking with FOR XML EXPLICIT if possible. Thanks!
I’ve encountered similar challenges with XML formatting in SQL Server. While FOR XML EXPLICIT offers fine-grained control, it can be tricky to get the exact structure you want. Have you considered using FOR XML PATH instead? It’s often simpler for these types of outputs. Here’s a query that should produce the XML structure you’re after:
SELECT AccountNumber AS 'clientID'
FROM CustomerAccounts
WHERE locationid = 'some-guid'
FOR XML PATH(''), ROOT('root')
This approach is more straightforward and easier to maintain. It generates each ‘clientID’ element separately and wraps them in a ‘root’ element. If you must stick with EXPLICIT, you’ll need to adjust your tag and parent values, but PATH is generally more intuitive for this kind of nested structure.