FIX: Query plan is displayed as an XML document incorrectly when you set the SHOWPLAN_XML option to ON in SQL Server 2008 R2 SP1

Microsoft distributes Microsoft SQL Server 2008 R2 Service Pack 1 (SP1) fixes in one downloadable file. Because the fixes are cumulative, each new release contains all the hotfixes and all the security updates that were included with the previous SQL Server 2008 R2 Service Pack 1 (SP1) update release.

Consider the following scenario:

• You set the SHOWPLAN_XML option to ON in Microsoft SQL Server 2008 R2 Service Pack 1 (SP1).
• You run a query, and the query returns a link for the XML query plan. 
• You click the link to view the query plan.

In this scenario, the query plan is displayed as an XML document instead of by using the graphical view. 

Note This issue does not occur in Microsoft SQL Server 2008 R2 RTM.

Cumulative update information

Cumulative update package 4 for SQL Server 2008 R2 SP1

The fix for this issue was first released in Cumulative Update 4. For more information about how to obtain this cumulative update package for SQL Server 2008 R2 SP1, click the following article number to view the article in the Microsoft Knowledge Base:Note Because the builds are cumulative, each new fix release contains all the hotfixes and all the security fixes that were included with the previous SQL Server 2008 R2 SP1 fix release. We recommend that you consider applying the most recent fix release that contains this hotfix. For more information, click the following article number to view the article in the Microsoft Knowledge Base:

Microsoft has confirmed that this is a problem in the Microsoft products that are listed in the "Applies to" section.