This default behavior can be overridden by using the
ELEMENTS XSINIL
keyword phrase.
Similar to this:
Columns that Contain a Null Value By Default - SQL Server | Microsoft Docs[
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SELECT EmployeeID as "@EmpID",
FirstName as "EmpName/First",
MiddleName as "EmpName/Middle",
LastName as "EmpName/Last"
FROM HumanResources.Employee E, Person.Contact C
WHERE E.EmployeeID = C.ContactID
AND E.EmployeeID=1
FOR XML PATH, ELEMENTS XSINIL;