Guru's Guide to SQL Server Architecture and Internals, The

Using URL Queries

The easiest way to test the virtual directory you built earlier is to submit a URL query that uses it from an XML-enabled browser such as Internet Explorer. URL queries take this form:

http://localhost/Northwind?sql=SELECT+*+FROM+Customers+FOR+XML+AUTO &root=Customers

NOTE: As with all URLs, the URL listed above should be typed on one line. Page width restrictions may force some of the URLs listed in this book to span multiple lines, but a URL should always be typed on a single line.

Here, localhost is the name of the Web server. It could just as easily be a fully qualified DNS domain name such as http://www.khen.com. Northwind is the virtual directory name we created earlier.

A question mark separates the URL from its parameters. ...