How to convert HierarchyID to string?

Execute the following Microsoft SQL Server T-SQL scripts in SSMS Query Editor to demonstrate the converting HierarchyID to strings and string to HierarchyID conversion.

-- Convert HierarchyID to string and reverse

SELECT TOP 1000 [BusinessEntityID]

      ,[NationalIDNumber]

      ,[OrganizationNode]

      ,[OrganizationNode].ToString() as AlphaHierarchyID

      ,[OrganizationLevel]

      ,hierarchyid::Parse([OrganizationNode].ToString()+'1/') AS AlphaToHierarchyID

  FROM [AdventureWorks2008].[HumanResources].[Employee]

  ORDER BY BusinessEntityID

/*  BusinessEntityID    NationalIDNumber  OrganizationNode  AlphaHierarchyID 

                        OrganizationLevel AlphaToHierarchyID

1     295847284   0x    /     0     0x58

2     245797967   0x58  /1/   1     0x5AC0

3     509647174   0x5AC0      /1/1/ 2     0x5AD6

4     112457891   0x5AD6      /1/1/1/     3     0x5AD6B0

5     695256908   0x5ADA      /1/1/2/     3     0x5ADAB0

6     998320692   0x5ADE      /1/1/3/     3     0x5ADEB0

7     134969118   0x5AE1      /1/1/4/     3     0x5AE158

......*/

------------

http://www.sqlusa.com/bestpractices2008/hierarchyid-to-string/