How do I remove redundant namespace in nested query when using FOR XML PATH

Question

UPDATE: I\'ve discovered there is a Microsoft Connect item raised for this issue here

When using FOR XML PATH

Answer 1

If I have understood correctly, you are referring to the behavior that you might see in a query like this:

DECLARE @Order TABLE (
  OrderID INT, 
  OrderDate DATETIME)

DECLARE @OrderDetail TABLE (
  OrderID INT, 
  ItemID VARCHAR(1), 
  ItemName VARCHAR(50), 
  Qty INT)

INSERT @Order 
VALUES 
(1, '2010-01-01'),
(2, '2010-01-02')

INSERT @OrderDetail 
VALUES 
(1, 'A', 'Drink',  5),
(1, 'B', 'Cup',    2),
(2, 'A', 'Drink',  2),
(2, 'C', 'Straw',  1),
(2, 'D', 'Napkin', 1)

;WITH XMLNAMESPACES('http://test.com/order' AS od) 
SELECT
  OrderID AS "@OrderID",
  (SELECT 
     ItemID AS "@od:ItemID", 
     ItemName AS "data()" 
   FROM @OrderDetail 
   WHERE OrderID = o.OrderID 
   FOR XML PATH ('od.Item'), TYPE)
FROM @Order o 
FOR XML PATH ('od.Order'), TYPE, ROOT('xml')

Which gives the following results:

  
    Drink
    Cup
  
  
    Drink
    Straw
    Napkin
  

As you said, the namespace is repeated in the results of the subqueries.

This behavior is a feature according to a conversation on devnetnewsgroup (website now defunct) although there is the option to vote on changing it.

My proposed solution is to revert back to FOR XML EXPLICIT:

SELECT
  1 AS Tag,
  NULL AS Parent,
  'http://test.com/order' AS [xml!1!xmlns:od],
  NULL AS [od:Order!2],
  NULL AS [od:Order!2!OrderID],
  NULL AS [od:Item!3],
  NULL AS [od:Item!3!ItemID]
UNION ALL
SELECT 
  2 AS Tag,
  1 AS Parent,
  'http://test.com/order' AS [xml!1!xmlns:od],
  NULL AS [od:Order!2],
  OrderID AS [od:Order!2!OrderID],
  NULL AS [od:Item!3],
  NULL [od:Item!3!ItemID]
FROM @Order 
UNION ALL
SELECT
  3 AS Tag,
  2 AS Parent,
  'http://test.com/order' AS [xml!1!xmlns:od],
  NULL AS [od:Order!2],
  o.OrderID AS [od:Order!2!OrderID],
  d.ItemName AS [od:Item!3],
  d.ItemID AS [od:Item!3!ItemID]
FROM @Order o INNER JOIN @OrderDetail d ON o.OrderID = d.OrderID
ORDER BY [od:Order!2!OrderID], [od:Item!3!ItemID]
FOR XML EXPLICIT

And see these results:

  
    Drink
    Cup
  
  
    Drink
    Straw
    Napkin