Convert Specific variable in XML to string C#

Question

I need to convert a specific part of an XML file to string, with the data in it varying. eg.

I have an xml file with this portion in it: -<root>-<Data><1>data</1>

and I want to only convert that line to a string, not the entire file. This, I know how to do. My issue is that the data in "1" will change depending on the circumstances, and I still want to be able to use the same program to convert it regardless of what the data in "1" reads.

to read the "1" line without verying data I know I can use:

 var xml = "<root><Data><1>data</1></Data></root>";   
var xmlString = XElement.Parse(xml).Descendants("1").FirstOrDefault().Value;

but I don't know how to do it with the contents of "1" changing.

Is the <1> element always a singular leaf? In other words, does it have any siblings or is it the only child element of <Data>? — casperOne
– casperOne, Commented May 21, 2012 at 2:36
One thing to note is that FirstOrDefault could return null, making the .Value call an exception. I'd just use .First, so the exception makes more sense. — Yuriy Faktorovich
– Yuriy Faktorovich, Commented May 21, 2012 at 2:45
It is the only child of data @casperOne but data is not the only child of root — JosephG
– JosephG, Commented May 21, 2012 at 2:54

moribvndvs · Accepted Answer · 2012-05-21 03:33:50Z

1

var xml = "<root><Data><One>data</One></Data></root>";

var xmlString = (from data in XElement.Parse(xml).Descendants("Data")
                 where data.Descendants().Any()
                 select data.Descendants().First().Value).FirstOrDefault();

Side note: having an XML element whose name begins with a number is considered invalid XML, and as such, XElement will fail to parse it.

answered May 21, 2012 at 3:33

moribvndvs

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1 Comment

JosephG Over a year ago

thanks, and thank you for pointing out that I couldn't use "1"

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