SQL Server : FOR XML sorting control by attribute

Question

I am generating a XML file from a SQL Server query.

I have some problem about sorting elements issues.

For example, there is simple code as below.

Answer 1

If you want to reorder existing xml, you can use XQuery:

declare @data xml = '

    
    
    

'

select @data.query('{for $i in test/* order by $i/@abc return $i}')

Result:

sql fiddle demo

update:

To reorder multiple nodes, you can use XQuery like this:

select @data.query('
    element Main {
        for $j in Main/test
            return element test {
                for $i in $j/* order by $i/@abc return $i
            }
    }
')

sql fiddle demo

update 2

To order by integer values of attributes, use cast as :

select @data.query('
    element Main {
        for $j in Main/test
            return element test {
                for $i in $j/* order by $i/@abc cast as xs:integer?
                    return $i
            }
    }
')

sql fiddle demo