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How to Create and Update XML column?

I like the entire concept of xml columns but I am really new to XML. I'm trying to start out with a simple case but I can't seem to get it to work.

What I want to do is to create a column that stores zero to many recommendations, for instance something like this:
<root>
<recommendation>Work hard, play hard</recommendation>
<recommendation>Floss the teeth you want to keep</recommendation>
<recommendation>Wash behind your ears</recommendation>
</root>
I have created a schema collection ( - have I done it correctly ? - this could be the cause of the problem. I've had trouble finding good examples for the schema collection). I've attached this as a code snippet.

Next I created a column called GoodAdvice in my Table (called Table_1)

SET ANSI_NULLS ON
GO
SET ANSI_NULLS ON
GO
SET QUOTED_IDENTIFIER ON
GO
CREATE TABLE [dbo].[Table_1](
      [id] [int] IDENTITY(1,1) NOT NULL,
      [AdvisorName] [nchar](80) COLLATE SQL_Latin1_General_CP1_CI_AS NULL,
      [GoodAdvice] [xml](CONTENT [dbo].[recommendations]) NULL
) ON [PRIMARY]

(In reality, Table_1 already existed, and I am adding the new GoodAdvice column to it.)

Now. I have a row that has id and AdvisorName already populated.

id=1, AdvisorName="Doctor Who"

and I want to start putting recommendations from Doctor Who into the table. What is the right syntax for this? I've tried to do this in various ways, and most recently tried the following with no success:

UPDATE Table_1
SET GoodAdvice.modify('insert element recommendation {Do not quit your day job} as first into (//root)[1]')
WHERE Table_1.id = 1

I get this error: XQuery [Table_1.GoodAdvice.modify()]: "}" was expected.

Being new to this is frustrating. What am I doing wrong?

CREATE XML SCHEMA COLLECTION [dbo].[recommendations] AS N
'<xsd:schema xmlns:xsd="http://www.w3.org/2001/XMLSchema" elementFormDefault="qualified">
<xsd:element name="root">
	<xsd:complexType>
		<xsd:complexContent>
			<xsd:restriction base="xsd:anyType">
				<xsd:choice minOccurs="0" maxOccurs="unbounded">
					<xsd:element name="recommendation" type="xsd:string" minOccurs="0" />
				</xsd:choice></xsd:restriction>
			</xsd:complexContent>
		</xsd:complexType>
	</xsd:element>
</xsd:schema>'

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jorge_toriz

Try with

SET GoodAdvice = GoodAdvice.modify('insert element recommendation {Do not quit your day job} as first into (//root)[1]')

tigriswoods

ASKER

Hello,
I tried your suggestion and received this error:

Illegal use of xml data type method 'modify'. A non-mutator method is expected in this context.

Other suggestions?

Thanks!

jorge_toriz

See an approach

CREATE TABLE TestXML(
	Id INT IDENTITY(1, 1) NOT NULL,
	Doc XML NOT NULL
)
GO
INSERT INTO TestXML (Doc) VALUES ('
<root>
	<child id="1">Value 1</child>
	<child id="2">Value 2</child>
	<child id="3">Value 3</child>
	<child id="4">Value 4</child>
</root>
')
GO
SELECT Doc FROM TestXML
GO
UPDATE TestXML
SET Doc.modify('insert <child id="5">Value 5</child> before (root/child[@id = "4"])[1]')
GO
SELECT Doc FROM TestXML

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tigriswoods

ASKER

From the reading I have done, I believe that I want to use an XML typed column so that I will be able to query the fields. If I'm not mistaken, using a DOC xml field will not permit me to do this? Can you help me create and update the xml column so that I will be able to query and index the fields? Thanks!

jorge_toriz

Is not required to have a typed xml column

CREATE TABLE TestXML(
	Id INT IDENTITY(1, 1) NOT NULL,
	Doc XML NOT NULL,
	CONSTRAINT pkTestXML PRIMARY KEY (Id)
)
GO
CREATE PRIMARY XML INDEX ixTestXML
ON TestXML (Doc)
GO
CREATE XML INDEX ixTestXML_Childs
ON TestXML (Doc)
USING XML INDEX ixTestXML
FOR PATH

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ASKER CERTIFIED SOLUTION

tigriswoods

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