Sql-docs: What is the Synapse equivalent of "FOR XML PATH"?

[swanderz]

This thread says that FOR XML PATH() is unsupported. However, I am not interested in loading XML data, rather using the FOR XML PATH() to create a list of executable sql statements.

On this page, you should link to the the STRING AGG page and mention this SO answer!

---

Document Details

⚠ Do not edit this section. It is required for docs.microsoft.com ➟ GitHub issue linking.

• ID: 93bfe89b-671a-31fc-5d54-eda784b8dee2
• Version Independent ID: 64485144-9dbe-23e0-1db8-165ae3441a9c
• Content: FOR XML (SQL Server) - SQL Server
• Content Source: docs/relational-databases/xml/for-xml-sql-server.md
• Product: sql
• Technology: xml
• GitHub Login: @rothja
• Microsoft Alias: jroth

[WilliamAntonRohm]

@swanderz -- Anders, thank you for your thorough feedback.

@rothja -- Jason, please look into this issue.

[swanderz]

this is one small ask as part of this issue in the Azure docs
https://github.com/mikaelene/dbt-sqlserver/issues/19

[rothja]

@swanderz Thanks for the question. I'm going to ask @julieMSFT to take a look, as she works on the content for Azure Synapse Analytics. #reassign:julieMSFT

Thank you!

[PRMerger12]

julieMSFT. is not a valid GitHub ID, or is not a collaborator on this repo.

[julieMSFT]

@swanderz Hi Anders. Thank you for contacting Microsoft. I am looking into your comments.

[swanderz]

@julieMSFT I linked the wrong issue above. Here (https://github.com/MicrosoftDocs/azure-docs/issues/55713), I hint that STRINGAGG() is the answer.

[swanderz]

my high level SQL doc feedback is that while I appreciate that you've consolidated the T-SQL function ref across products to avoid duplication, I don't think this works for the persona that is trying to translate between TSQL implementations. I also opened this issue on the same topic. https://github.com/MicrosoftDocs/azure-docs/issues/55713 @WilliamAntonRohm

I think using the analogy of offering an analogy of a language translation dictionary. Imagine I'm a Spanish speaker who is trying to learn how to say _biblioteca_ in English. So I google "biblioteca English" and am brought to a page that has this at the top.

_biblioteca_
Spanish: ✔️ Italian: ✔️ English: ❌

At this point, I have nowhere to go next. And the presence of the word, "English", is going to bring me to that entry even though biblioteca isn't a word in English.

This is the experience of someone trying to figure out how to develop in Synapse that is coming from SQL server.

FOR XML PATH (SQL SERVER)

[julieMSFT]

@swanderz Thank you for providing more clarifying information. I do understand the issue. I have crated a work item to track this suggestion. I will close this issue but will let you know when we decide how to address the concern you raise here. The @notification mechanism continues to work even after an item is closed, in case further communication is needed. We hope to hear from you again.

[julieMSFT]

https://mseng.visualstudio.com/TechnicalContent/_boards/board/t/SQL/Stories/?workitem=1745082