At one stage you say that auto mode does not allow you to specify a root element, and you provide a work around.  Are you perhaps talking about SQL 2000?  As by using the following construct with SQL 2005, you can very simply provide a root element.

FOR XML AUTO, ROOT ('CustomersByRegion')

Regards,

David McKinney.

Hi David,

You are right. Thakx for pointing this.

Jacob

This is very useful, Jacob, and nicely explained. Thanks for that. I loved the format. I find PATH the most intuitive way of generating XML to a precise format. I really struggled before I started using it.

p.s. microsoft.public.sqlserver.xml can be really useful for  people like me who are still slightly mystified by aspects of XML.

Hi phil,

Thank you for the comments. I am a regular reader of your articles at simple-talk. They are simply excellent .

regards

Jacob

Hi charles,

There is an article on EXPLICIT already on the way. It may be appearing in the next few weeks.

thankx

Jacob