SSMS 2012:FOR XML PATH Using XPath Node Tests-Columnn name 'test()' contains an invalid XML identifier as required by FOR XML?

Question

Hi all,
I am learning XPATH and XQUERY from the Book "Pro T-SQL 2008 Programmer's Guide" written by Michael Coles, (published by apress). I copied the Code Listing 12-8 FOR XML PATH Using XPath Node Tests (listed below) and executed it in my
SQL Server 2012 Management Studio:
--Coles12_8.sql // saved in C:/Documemnts/SQL Server Management Studio
-- Coles Listing 12-8 FOR XML PATH Using XPATH Node Tests
-- Retrieving Name and E-mail Addresses with FOR XML PATH in AdvantureWorks
-- 16 March 2015 0935 AM
USE AdventureWorks;
GO
SELECT
p.NameStyle AS "processing-instruction(nameStyle)",
p.BusinessEntityID AS "Person/@ID",
p.ModifiedDate AS "comment()",
pp.PhoneNumber AS "test()",
FirstName AS "Person/Name/First",
MiddleName AS "Person/Name/Middle",
LastName AS "Person/Name/Last",
EmailAddress AS "Person/Email"
FROM Person.Person p
INNER JOIN Person.EmailAddress e
ON p.BusinessEntityID = e.BusinessEntityID
INNER JOIN Person.PersonPhone pp
ON p.BusinessEntityID = pp.BusinessEntityID
FOR XML PATH;
I got the following error message:
Msg 6850, Level 16, State 1, Line 2
Column name 'test()' contains an invalid XML identifier as required by FOR XML; '('(0x0028) is the first character at fault.
I have no ideas why I got this error message.  Please kindly help and advise me how to resolve this error.
Thanks in advance,  Scott Chang

Answer 1

Hi Michelle, Thanks for your nice response.
I corrected the mistake and executed the revised code. It worked nicely.
I just have one question to ask you about the appearance of the xml output of my Co;les12_8.sql:
<row>
<?nameStyle 0?>
<Person ID="1" />
<!--2003-02-08T00:00:00-->697-555-0142<Person><Name><First>Ken</First><Middle>J</Middle><Last>Sánchez</Last></Name><Email>[email protected]</Email></Person></row>
<row>
<?nameStyle 0?>
<Person ID="2" />
<!--2002-02-24T00:00:00-->819-555-0175<Person><Name><First>Terri</First><Middle>Lee</Middle><Last>Duffy</Last></Name><Email>[email protected]</Email></Person></row>
<row>
<?nameStyle 0?>
<Person ID="3" />
<!--2001-12-05T00:00:00-->212-555-0187<Person><Name><First>Roberto</First><Last>Tamburello</Last></Name><Email>[email protected]</Email></Person></row>
<row>
<?nameStyle 0?>
<Person ID="4" />
<!--2001-12-29T00:00:00-->612-555-0100<Person><Name><First>Rob</First><Last>Walters</Last></Name><Email>[email protected]</Email></Person></row>
<row>
<?nameStyle 0?>
<Person ID="5" />
<!--2002-01-30T00:00:00-->849-555-0139<Person><Name><First>Gail</First><Middle>A</Middle><Last>Erickson</Last></Name><Email>[email protected]</Email></Person></row>
<row>
<?nameStyle 0?>
<Person ID="6" />
<!--2002-02-17T00:00:00-->122-555-0189<Person><Name><First>Jossef</First><Middle>H</Middle><Last>Goldberg</Last></Name><Email>[email protected]</Email></Person></row>
<row>
<?nameStyle 0?>
<Person ID="7" />
<!--2003-03-05T00:00:00-->181-555-0156<Person><Name><First>Dylan</First><Middle>A</Middle><Last>Miller</Last></Name><Email>[email protected]</Email></Person></row>
<row>
<?nameStyle 0?>
<Person ID="8" />
<!--2003-01-23T00:00:00-->815-555-0138<Person><Name><First>Diane</First><Middle>L</Middle><Last>Margheim</Last></Name><Email>[email protected]</Email></Person></row>
<row>
<?nameStyle 0?>
<Person ID="9" />
<!--2003-02-10T00:00:00-->185-555-0186<Person><Name><First>Gigi</First><Middle>N</Middle><Last>Matthew</Last></Name><Email>[email protected]</Email></Person></row>
<row>
<?nameStyle 0?>
<Person ID="10" />
<!--2003-05-28T00:00:00-->330-555-2568<Person><Name><First>Michael</First><Last>Raheem</Last></Name><Email>[email protected]</Email></Person></row>
<row>
<?nameStyle 0?>
<Person ID="11" />
<!--2004-12-29T00:00:00-->719-555-0181<Person><Name><First>Ovidiu</First><Middle>V</Middle><Last>Cracium</Last></Name><Email>[email protected]</Email></Person></row>
<row>
I feel this xml output is not like the regular xml output.  Do you know why it is diffrent from the regular xml xml output?  Please comment on this matter.
Thanks,
Scott Chang
What do you mean by regular xml document? Are you referring to fact that its missing a root element? if yes it can be added as below
USE AdventureWorks;
GO
SELECT
p.NameStyle AS "processing-instruction(nameStyle)",
p.BusinessEntityID AS "Person/@ID",
p.ModifiedDate AS "comment()",
pp.PhoneNumber AS "text()",
FirstName AS "Person/Name/First",
MiddleName AS "Person/Name/Middle",
LastName AS "Person/Name/Last",
EmailAddress AS "Person/Email"
FROM Person.Person p
INNER JOIN Person.EmailAddress e
ON p.BusinessEntityID = e.BusinessEntityID
INNER JOIN Person.PersonPhone pp
ON p.BusinessEntityID = pp.BusinessEntityID
FOR XML PATH('ElementName'),ROOT('RootName');
replace ElementName and RootName with whatever name you need to set for element as well as the root element
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