How to not insert xmlns in SQL Server? - sql

Question

I need to add some XML elements into an XML column in SQL Server.
Here's a simplified example of my code:
DECLARE #temp XML = '<Rate>' + CONVERT(VARCHAR(20), #RateAmt, 1) + '</Rate>'
UPDATE [TableName]
SET [XMLValue].modify('declare namespace ns="http://www.mycompany.com/schema";insert sql:variable("#temp") as last into (/ns:Element1/ns:Element2)[1]')
WHERE id = #Id
Here's the output:
<Rate xmlns="">12.00</Rate>
So, the code is working, however, how do I remove the xmlns="" attribute?

Answer 1

Why are you inserting a namespace if you don't want one in the xml?
DECLARE #RateAmt decimal(9,2) = 12.00
DECLARE #temp XML = '<Rate>' + CONVERT(VARCHAR(20), #RateAmt, 1) + '</Rate>'
DECLARE #tempTable TABLE
(
Column1 Xml
)
INSERT INTO #tempTable(Column1)
SELECT #temp
OR
UPDATE #tempTable
SET Column1 = (SELECT #temp)
SELECT * FROM #tempTable
<Rate>12.00</Rate>
(1 row(s) affected)

Answer 2

There is an accepted answer already (especially concerning your namespace issue), great, just some hints:
There are very rare situation where one should create XML via string concatenation... Especially in connection with strings (special characters!), numbers (format!) and date/time values (culture and format!) it is much better to rely on the implicit translations using SELECT ... FOR XML ...
DECLARE #RateAmt DECIMAL(12,4)=12.0;
This is possible, but not good:
DECLARE #temp XML = '<Rate>' + CONVERT(VARCHAR(20), #RateAmt, 1) +'</Rate>'
Better try this
DECLARE #temp XML=(SELECT #RateAmt FOR XML PATH('Rate'));
Your attempt to insert this into existing XML can be done the way you do it already (create the XML-node externally and insert it as-is), it might be easier to insert the plain value:
DECLARE #tbl TABLE(ID INT IDENTITY,XMLValue XML);
INSERT INTO #tbl VALUES
(N'<Element1><Element2><test>FirstTest</test></Element2></Element1>')
,(N'<Element1><Element2><test>Second</test></Element2></Element1>');
--ID=1: Insert the way you do it:
UPDATE #tbl
SET [XMLValue].modify('insert sql:variable("#temp") as last into (/Element1/Element2)[1]')
WHERE id = 1
--ID=2: Insert the value of #RateAmt directly
SET #RateAmt=100.00;
UPDATE #tbl
SET [XMLValue].modify('insert <Rate>{sql:variable("#RateAmt")}</Rate> as last into (/Element1/Element2)[1]')
WHERE id = 2
This is Result ID=1
<Element1>
<Element2>
<test>FirstTest</test>
<Rate>12.0000</Rate>
</Element2>
</Element1>
And ID=2
<Element1>
<Element2>
<test>Second</test>
<Rate>100</Rate>
</Element2>
</Element1>