title: Importing XML data into MS SQL server programmatically
body: <p>I have <strong><a href="https://blog.stackoverflow.com/2009/06/stack-overflow-creative-commons-data-dump/">5 large XML files</a></strong> which I am keen to analyse. All of them are <strong>too large to open in a text editor</strong> and so I do not know their XML schemas.</p>
  <p>I have tried to import them into SQL server, however the process has given me an error even though I am pretty sure they are valid, as they were sourced from very <strong>reputable programmers</strong>.</p>
  <p>I have also tried other methods but each struggles with the large file sizes (<em>MySQL</em>) or state that the files contain invalid XML characters (<em>Access &amp; Excel</em>).</p>
  <p>How can I <strong>read and insert the data programmatically?</strong> Can this be done via SQL query?</p>
  <p>Thanks a lot!</p>