Select your data as XML Format (SQL Server)

Converting the data you already have inside your database

• You can create a select statement as you would already do, with a FOR XML at the end of your select statement
  
• Options (a la carte):
  

SELECT * FROM employees FOR XML auto

FOR XML RAW	The element defaults to "row" (can further customize) <row fistcolumn ="blah" secondcolumn="blah"/>;
FOR XML AUTO	The element name is called by <employees fistcolumn="blah" secondcolumn="blah" />
FOR XML PATH	Xml elements are parsed based on column <row> <firstColumn>blah</firstColumn> <secondColumn>blah</secondColumn> <row>

FOR EXPLICIT (explained):

Here is a select statement (same as above, but with the gory details to the EXPLICIT option

SELECT 1 AS Tag, NULL AS Parent, employeeID AS [employees!1!id], employee_fname AS[employees!1!employee_fname] FROM employees FOR XML EXPLICIT, ROOT('blah')

FOR XML EXPLICIT

FOR XML EXPLICIT requires the second column to hold NULL or nonnegative integers that represent XML parent tag IDs.