Question

In my database (GoogleSEOData), I have got one Table (GoogleMarkupList) and below sample data are there in table:

PUBLICATION_ID  |   PAGEID  |   URL
-------------------------------------------------------------
233             |   654345  |   /english/index.aspx
345             |   654345  |   /de/english/index.aspx
432             |   654345  |   /ru/russian/index.aspx
533             |   654345  |   /ae/arabic/index.aspx
233             |   452323  |   /english/offers.aspx
345             |   452323  |   /de/english/offers.aspx
432             |   452323  |   /ru/russian/offers.aspx
533             |   452323  |   /ae/arabic/offers.aspx
233             |   834343  |   /english/destinations.aspx
345             |   834343  |   /de/english/destinations.aspx
432             |   834343  |   /ru/russian/destinations.aspx
533             |   834343  |   /ae/arabic/destinations.aspx

Now I want to write SQL Procedure which will take File Path of the server as input say (D://GoogleMarkup) and would create below type of XML files on server (For above sample data).

Name of XML file for 654345 type of data will be 654345.XML

<ps>
<p n="233" u="/english/index.aspx" />
<p n="345" u="/de/english/index.aspx" />
<p n="432" u="/ru/russian/index.aspx" />
<p n="533" u="/ae/arabic/index.aspx" />
</ps>

Name of XML file for 452323 type of data will be 452323.XML

<ps>
<p n="233" u="/english/offers.aspx" />
<p n="345" u="/de/english/offers.aspx" />
<p n="432" u="/ru/russian/offers.aspx" />
<p n="533" u="/ae/arabic/offers.aspx" />
</ps>

Name of XML file for 834343 type of data will be 834343.XML

<ps>
<p n="233" u="/english/destinations.aspx" />
<p n="345" u="/de/english/destinations.aspx" />
<p n="432" u="/ru/russian/destinations.aspx" />
<p n="533" u="/ae/arabic/destinations.aspx" />
</ps>

I know there is utility

SQLCMD -S Server -d Database -E -v pageid=%pid% 
       -Q "Select publication_id as [n], url  from table as [p] where pageid=$(pageid) for xml auto, root('ps')" 
       -o D://GoogleMarkup/%pid%.xml

But how to create all the XMLs in one go, so that it will read pageid one by one and would pass to SQLCMD to create XML, do I need to write cursor for that, please suggest with some good code sample.

Please suggest!!

Answer 1

You can create a SP to cycle and repeat the command to create the XML file

IMPORTANT:
The sqlcmd utility requiers :XML ON sqlcmd command on the single line!

Without :XML ON sqlcmd command the result is like:

XML_F52E2B61-18A1-11d1-B105-00805F49916B
---------------------------------------------------
0x440249004400440546006C006F00610074004408440061007...

(1 rows affected)

This is a reason why we can’t use the inline sql query to export data to xml using sqlcmd.

But we can use the bcp utility for inline sql queries.

CREATE PROCEDURE [dbo].[DO_XML]
AS 

Declare @PAGEID int
, @PAGEID_TEXT varchar(100)
, @CMD varchar(2000)
, @FILE varchar(100)

-- local cursor to cycle
DECLARE cXML CURSOR LOCAL FAST_FORWARD FOR
SELECT  PAGEID from GoogleMarkupList with (NOLOCK) group by PAGEID  

OPEN cXML

    FETCH NEXT FROM cXML INTO @PAGEID
    WHILE @@FETCH_STATUS = 0

    BEGIN
        set @PAGEID_TEXT = cast(@PAGEID as varchar(100))

        -- dynamic command to create XML
        -- MUST BE ALL IN 1 LINE
        set @CMD = 'bcp "Select publication_id as [n], url  from GoogleSEOData.dbo.GoogleMarkupList as [p] where pageid='+ @PAGEID_TEXT +' FOR XML AUTO, ELEMENTS, ROOT(''ps'')"  queryout E:\GoogleMarkup\'+@PAGEID_TEXT+'.XML -S MANOJ-PC\KRISH -T -c'

        -- do it
        exec master..xp_cmdshell @CMD, no_output

        FETCH NEXT FROM cXML INTO @PAGEID

END    
CLOSE cXML
DEALLOCATE cXML

This SP has been tested and work correctly by creating all the XML files

Add what about the command line ?

here the example:

bcp "Select publication_id as [n], url  from GoogleSEOData.dbo.GoogleMarkupList as [p] where pageid=452323 FOR XML AUTO, ELEMENTS, ROOT('ps')" queryout E:\GoogleMarkup\452323.xml -S GoogleSEOData -T -c

For more info:
SQL Server Export using bcp/sqlcmd Utilities and XML

Hope it help