How long we can trust on FOR XML AUTO or FOR XML RAW

Hi,

I have been there a situation of an apprehension that Microsoft may issue some patch or hotfix in future for SQL SERVER, that will change the shape of XML results yielded by FOR XML AUTO or FOR XML RAW query.

Our query is going to be rigid in the application and the data would then be passed through sensitive application that may crash if xml is not valid, we have many types of xmls so we cannot create schema for each and every guy and same with EXPLICIT.

Is this superstition valid that I shouldnt trust Microsoft here ?

Any input in this will sincerely be appreciated.

Fahad

Hi,
Am not so soure about the patch but what exactly are you trying to achieve? maybe if you specified the problem we could try and work around the problem and find a solution.

|||We are using a query with FOR XML AUTO, but our apprehension is weather SQL Server GUYS will issue some service pack in future that will change the XML Format, we wont have access to change the logic or xsl in future because software is burnt into the hardware.|||I'd say the fact that they didn't change it with the release of SQL Server 2005 means they most likely won't.
But thats just my point of view.
|||

Fahad,

We put a lot of effort into keeping backwards compatiablity. If we do have breaking changes going forward, you can always put your database in back compat mode.

-galex

|||They DID change it in SQL Server 2005!
I tried to use 2005 for an application that exclusively uses FOR XML and not even the login worked, as the structure of the XML returned differed from 2000.