SQL Server 2005 Native Client + ADO + XML

Question

Hi. I'm trying to implement SQLServer 2005 with mirror in two W2003 Servers. The application we use doesn't seem to work well with the SQLNCLI driver. When I execute a procedure that should return an XML result, I get something that looks like a binary/columned result. However, with the old connection string (not supporting mirroring), it works just fine.

Connection string NOT working OK:
Provider=SQLNCLI;Data Source=123.123.123.123;Database=PAT;UID=xxxxxx;PWD=xxxxxx;

Connection string working OK, but NOT supporting mirroring:
Driver={SQL SERVER};Server=123.123.123.123;Database=PAT;UID=xxxxxx;PWD=xxxxxx;

Results I get from the server when using SQLNCLI:
D?FechaInicialMuestreo?FechaFinalMuestreo?TotalTrx?NroProducto?ProdDescripcion?CodRespuesta?CodRespuestaDesc?PorActualIncidencia?NivelStandarPor?XS_CHECK_ERR?CONCEPTO????????

Results I should get, and do get if I use the old connection string:
<XS_CHECK_ERR FechaInicialMuestreo="2010-03-25T15:46:51.223" FechaFinalMuestreo="2010-03-25T16:21:12.753" TotalTrx="0"/>

The procedure is using code like sp_xml_preparedocument, SELECT ... FROM OPENXML, etc.

I don't know where else to look. The application was written in VC++ 6.0 using ADO ("ADODB.Connection").

Thanks for any tips.

Answer 1

OK, I've just found the answer here:

SQL Native Client does not contain XML integration. SQL Native Client supports SELECT … FOR XML queries, but does not support any other XML functionality. However, SQL Native Client does support the new SQL Server 2005 xml data type.

I'm now trying to find a way (if any) of using failover switching with old MSDASQL provider and {SQL Server} driver.