@MikeFal Heh. I was wondering why it took so long then was only half done :P

@PaulWhite I just listened to your session on parallel query plans from PASS 2013. Great session by the way. You said something along the line of that UDF's is the most evil ever. I vaguely remember you saying the same about XML so here is your chance ... pick one ... Which solution do you despise the most :)

And I actually know what you would prefer. Neither right :).

@MikaelEriksson Right. But if I absolutely had to choose between xml and a non-inline UDF, I'd choose xml.

But I'd still hate myself, naturally.

@PaulWhite I don't want you to hate yourself so if you ever have the need to do something xmlly (pronounced exemelly) in SQL Server I offer my service according to the terms and fees of The Heap™ - Consultancy ©®.

Ha ha thanks. You'd be the first person I'd ask anyway.

anyone else ever spent a long time waiting for a recursive CTE then realise it's an infinite loop?

nope

still running

@MikaelEriksson ha ha :)

@MikaelEriksson you know 'exemelly' sounds a lot like 'smelly'?

which is unfair because XML smells clean and fresh

I don't think this is enough to re-open, anyone disagree?

dba.stackexchange.com/posts/74705/revisions

@AaronBertrand I still can't figure out what he's asking

@MarkStorey-Smith me too. Just sanity checking.

I'm going to suggest he comes back with a SQLFiddle

@JackDouglas Thanks Jack!