• As Ray mentions, the xml methods are perfect for this.. here is an example based on your xml

    DECLARE @xml XML

    SET @xml = '<server name="Server1">

    <log>

    <logItem type="LogDate">

    <value string="2012/12/15" />

    </logItem>

    <logItem type="error">

    <value string="File not found" />

    </logItem>

    <logItem type="source">

    <value string="Dir/SubDir/SomeFile" />

    </logItem>

    </log>

    </server>'

    SELECT @xml.value('(/server/log/logItem[@type="error"]/value/@string)[1]', 'varchar(50)')