PATH Mode

PATH mode is the latest and best addition to the FOR XML syntax. It provides a straightforward way of using a limited XPath syntax to specify the shaping of query-produced XML. It is also a very compact syntax in comparison with some of the other modes, especially EXPLICIT.

Let’s look at how PATH mode works by re-creating the XML produced in Listing 49.9, this time using PATH mode. Listing 49.10 illustrates this mode.

LISTING 49.10 Using FOR XML PATH to Simplify an EXPLICIT Query

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SELECT    Reason.ScrapReasonId,    Name 'text()',    WorkOrderId 'WorkOrder/@WorkOrderId',    ScrappedQty 'WorkOrder/@ScrappedQuantity'FROM Production.ScrapReason ReasonJOIN Production.WorkOrder WorkOrderON Reason.ScrapReasonId ...

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