How to read XML data dynamically in C#/.net?

Question

How can i read XML data dynamically? How can I manage my C# code as generic and dynamic as possible? Based on the requirements I will need to add further folder paths in Xml, which should not affect the written code in a way that it has to be rewritten..

Given a piece of XML as sample:

<?xml version="1.0" standalone="yes"?>
  <HOSTS>
   <Host id = '1'>
     <Extension>txt</Extension>
     <FolderPath>C:/temp</FolderPath>
   </Host>
   <Host id = '2'>
     <Extension>rar</Extension>
     <FolderPath>C:/Sample</FolderPath>
   </Host>
 </HOSTS>

How can I read the host id dynamically? What possibilities do I have?

Community · Accepted Answer · 2017-05-23 11:49:09Z

6

Yes - in fact this is a very common task in C#.

There are a couple of ways you could tackle this:

Use a library such as XPath to read the XML values
Deserialise the XML into an object
Load into an XMLDocument object
LINQ to XML (recommended)

Those links should point you in the right direction.

edited May 23, 2017 at 11:49

CommunityBot

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answered May 28, 2012 at 17:31

m.edmondson

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Comments

Kapil Khandelwal · Accepted Answer · 2012-05-28 17:35:20Z

3

Use LINQ to XML.

Example: to retrieve host with (id = 1):

string id = "1"


XDocument doc = XDocument.Load("data.xml");
var accounts = from elements in doc.Elements("HOSTS").Elements("Host")
                where elements.Attribute("id").Value = id
                    select elements.FirstOrDefault();

answered May 28, 2012 at 17:35

Kapil Khandelwal

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mbx · Accepted Answer · 2012-05-28 17:42:27Z

1

Generate an xsd scheme from that sample xml. Modify it as needed and then generate a strongly typed C# class using xsd.exe.

edited May 28, 2012 at 17:42

answered May 28, 2012 at 17:32

mbx

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Cole Tobin · Accepted Answer · 2012-05-28 17:28:00Z

0

Your best bet is to use the System.Xml.XmlDocument class along with System.Xml.XmlDocument.Load(...) for constructors.

answered May 28, 2012 at 17:28

Cole Tobin

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Unril · Accepted Answer · 2012-05-28 19:20:26Z

0

Best way (for my opinion) for this case is use XML Serialization to strongly typed classes. You can control process with using Attributes.

var serializer = new XmlSerializer(typeof(Hosts));
var hosts = (Hosts)serializer.Deserialize(new StringReader(str));

...

[XmlRoot("HOSTS")]
public class Hosts : List<Host> {}

public class Host {
    [XmlAttribute("id")]
    public int Id { get; set; }

    public string Extension { get; set; }

    public string FolderPath { get; set; }
}

answered May 28, 2012 at 19:20

Unril

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