When we create a sequence object in SQL Server, we have the option of making it a repeating sequence or a nonrepeating sequence. By repeating I mean, we can have the sequence continually start again once the min/max value has been reached. In other words, we can have the sequence reiterate over and over again.
We can do this with the CYCLE argument.
When using FOR XML in SQL Server, we can use the ELEMENTS directive to include a column as an element instead of an attribute. However by default, if a column contains a NULL value, no element is produced for that column in the resulting XML document. This may or may not be what we want, depending on the requirements.
If we want such columns to be included in the XML even when they contain NULL values, all we need to do is include the XSINIL option. This option specifies that any column that has a NULL value automatically gets an element with xsi:nil="true" in the resulting XML.
The alternative is ABSENT, which means columns with NULL values are excluded (this is the default behaviour).
When using FOR XML EXPLICIT in SQL Server, we can use the ELEMENT directive to include a column as an element instead of an attribute. However, this directive doesn’t allow for NULL values. What I mean is that if a column contains a NULL value, no element is produced for that column in the resulting XML document. This may or may not be what we want, depending on the requirements.
If we want such columns to be included in the XML even when they contain NULL values, we can use the ELEMENTXSINIL directive instead of ELEMENT.
Trying to convert a number to a date in SQL Server can be tricky and may not always work. It all depends on the number and what exactly it is that we’re trying to do. That said, here are some scenarios where we can convert a number to a date value.
In SQL Server, the FOR XML clause allows us to return the results of a query as an XML document. Simply by placing the FOR XML clause at the end of the query will output the results in XML.
When we do this, we have the option of specifying RAW, AUTO, EXPLICIT, or PATH mode. These modes allow us to shape the resulting XML in different ways, and so the mode we choose will determine how the XML is generated.
Below are examples of using EXPLICIT mode when generating XML from a SQL query.
In SQL Server, the FOR XML clause allows us to return the results of a query as an XML document. Simply by placing the FOR XML clause at the end of the query will output the results in XML.
When we do this, we have the option of specifying RAW, AUTO, EXPLICIT, or PATH mode. These modes allow us to shape the resulting XML in different ways, and so the mode we choose will determine how the XML is generated.
Below are examples of using RAW mode when generating XML from a SQL query.
In SQL Server, the FOR XML clause allows us to return the results of a query as an XML document. Simply by placing the FOR XML clause at the end of the query will output the results in XML.
When we do this, we have the option of specifying RAW, AUTO, EXPLICIT, or PATH mode. These modes allow us to shape the resulting XML in different ways, and so the mode we choose will determine how the XML is generated.
Below are examples of using AUTO mode when generating XML from a SQL query.
In SQL Server, the FOR XML clause allows us to return the results of a query as an XML document. Simply by placing the FOR XML clause at the end of the query will output the results in XML.
When we do this, we have the option of specifying RAW, AUTO, EXPLICIT, or PATH mode. These modes allow us to shape the resulting XML in different ways, and so the mode we choose will determine how the XML is generated.
Below are examples of using PATH mode when generating XML from a SQL query.
Below is a list of binary styles supported by the CONVERT() function in SQL Server. These are the styles that can be used as the third argument to indicate how the input value is formatted when converting to binary.
We can use these styles when the input expression is binary(n), char(n), varbinary(n), or varchar(n).