SQL Server FOR XML Path make repeating nodes

Question

I\'d like to generate the following output using SQL Server 2012:

  1
  2
  3<         


        

Answer 1

A couple notes here: If you use FOR XML EXPLICIT, you can't use WITH XMLNAMESPACES (a requirement I didn't mention, so I'm still leaving the accepted answer). While Iheria's answer was also very helpful, there's another simpler possibility I've since realized:

SELECT CONVERT(XML, '' + t.col1 
           + '' + t.col2 
           + '' + t.col3 + '')
FROM tbl t
FOR XML PATH('parent'), TYPE

I think this is probably the easiest and most performant way (I haven't benchmarked it, but I can't imagine using UNPIVOT would be faster and, if anything, the multiple SELECT option likely is refactored to this by the engine anyway).