Querying SQL Server xml column with user provided XPath via Entity Framework

Question

I\'m having a really tough time figuring how to use an xml data column in SQL Server, specifically for use with Entity Framework.

Basically, one of our tables stores

Answer 1

To remain "customisable", the SqlQuery method on DbSet can be used:

var query = @"SET ARITHABORT ON; 
              select * from [YourTable] where 
              [xmlcol].exist('/path1/path2[0][text()=''{0}''']";
var numOfResults = 5;
var offsetPage = 1;

var results = Context.YourTable.SqlQuery(String.Format(query,"valuetest"))
                              .OrderBy(x => x.col)
                              .Skip(offsetPage * numOfResults)
                              .Take(numOfResults).ToList();

Note, due to its dynamic nature, this method would also most likely expose some degree of sql injection security holes.