SQL Server 2016 for JSON output integer array

Question

I\'d like to get JSON with an array of integers using SQL Server 2016\'s For JSON feature. I\'m stumped on array of integers.

Database table structures:

Answer 1

You can use FOR XML PATH and STUFF to make PermissionID one string comma separated for each Employee, use QUOTENANE on it, then put all in variable and replace "[ with [ and ]" with ] :

DECLARE @json NVARCHAR(max)

SELECT @json = REPLACE(REPLACE((
    SELECT  e.Name as [Employee],
            QUOTENAME(STUFF((SELECT ','+CAST(ep.PermissionID as nvarchar(10))
            FROM EmployeePermissions ep
            WHERE e.ID = ep.EmployeeID
            FOR XML PATH('')),1,1,''))
            as [Permissions]
    FROM Employees e 
    FOR JSON AUTO, ROOT('EmployeePermissions')
),'"[','['),']"',']')

SELECT @json

Output:

{"EmployeePermissions":[
    {"Employee":"Bob","Permissions":[1,2]},
    {"Employee":"Randy","Permissions":[1,2,3]}
]}

EDIT:

Another way:

SELECT '{"EmployeePermissions":[' + STUFF((
SELECT  ',{"Employee":"' + e.Name + '","Permissions":[' +
        STUFF((SELECT ',' + CAST(PermissionID as nvarchar(10))
        FROM EmployeePermissions ep
        WHERE ep.EmployeeID = e.ID
        FOR XML PATH('')),1,1,'') +']}'
FROM Employees e
FOR XML PATH('')),1,1,'') + ']}'

Output:

{"EmployeePermissions":[
    {"Employee":"Bob","Permissions":[1,2]},
    {"Employee":"Randy","Permissions":[1,2,3]}
]}