You could take out the FOR XML clause and construct a new XML document with either the MSXML.DomDocument or by traversing the recordset. The latter might turn out slower though, it all depends on what fields need to go on the new XML document. But there's only one way to find out :)

Good luck,

>yes, the client applications expect XML
>I know the .Save(..., 1) option, but I want to format the XML to my own (clients) needs.
>I also have to combine several set's in a response that is send back to a client application who requested the data.
>Thanks for your reply thougd, I'll keep this in mind.
>