How to parse xml in sql server to process NULL value in DateTime DataType.

Question

I have created a sample query in sql server to parse data from xml and to display it right now. Although I will be inserting this data in my table but before that I am facing a simple problem.

I want to insert NULL in datetime field ADDED_DATE="NULL" as shown in xml given below. But when I executes this query. It gives me error

Conversion failed when converting datetime from character string.

What mistake am i doing. Please highlight my mistake.

declare @xml varchar(1000)
set @xml= '
<ROOT>
    <TX_MAP FK_GUEST_ID="1"  FK_CATEGORY_ID="2" ATTRIBUTE="Test" DESCRIPTION="TestDesc" IS_ACTIVE="1" ADDED_BY="NULL" ADDED_DATE="NULL" MODIFIED_BY="NULL" MODIFIED_DATE="NULL"></TX_MAP>
    <TX_MAP FK_GUEST_ID="2"  FK_CATEGORY_ID="1" ATTRIBUTE="Test2" DESCRIPTION="TestDesc2" IS_ACTIVE="1" ADDED_BY="NULL" ADDED_DATE="NULL" MODIFIED_BY="NULL" MODIFIED_DATE="NULL"></TX_MAP>
</ROOT> '

declare @handle int
exec sp_xml_preparedocument @handle output, @xml

select * from OPENXML(@handle,'/ROOT/TX_MAP',1)
with 
    (
    FK_GUEST_ID INT
    ,FK_CATEGORY_ID VARCHAR(10)
    ,ATTRIBUTE VARCHAR(100)
    ,[DESCRIPTION] VARCHAR(100)
    ,IS_ACTIVE VARCHAR(10)
    ,ADDED_BY VARCHAR(100)
    ,ADDED_DATE DATETIME NULL
    ,MODIFIED_BY VARCHAR(100)
    ,MODIFIED_DATE DATETIME NULL
    )

I am using Sql Server 2005.

Answer 1

An XML element can be set to null like:

<ADDED_DATE xsi:nil="true"/>

I can't find a way to set an attribute to null though. Perhaps the only way is to omit it?

Answer 2

After googling an hour, I got answer to my question and would like to share with you all so that for future users it become easy.

declare @xml varchar(1000)
set @xml= '
<ROOT>
    <TX_MAP FK_GUEST_ID="1"  FK_CATEGORY_ID="2" ATTRIBUTE="Test" DESCRIPTION="TestDesc" IS_ACTIVE="1" ADDED_BY="NULL" ADDED_DATE="12/3/2010" MODIFIED_BY="NULL" MODIFIED_DATE="12/3/2010"></TX_MAP>
    <TX_MAP FK_GUEST_ID="2"  FK_CATEGORY_ID="1" ATTRIBUTE="Test2" DESCRIPTION="TestDesc2" IS_ACTIVE="1" ></TX_MAP>
</ROOT> '

declare @handle int
exec sp_xml_preparedocument @handle output, @xml

select * from OPENXML(@handle,'/ROOT/TX_MAP',1)
with 
    (
    FK_GUEST_ID INT
    ,FK_CATEGORY_ID VARCHAR(10)
    ,ATTRIBUTE VARCHAR(100)
    ,[DESCRIPTION] VARCHAR(100)
    ,IS_ACTIVE VARCHAR(10)
    ,ADDED_BY VARCHAR(100)
    ,ADDED_DATE DATETIME
    ,MODIFIED_BY VARCHAR(100)
    ,MODIFIED_DATE DATETIME 
    )

What you need to do is just to omit those attributes that will result into NULL value.