How to sort an XML file using .NET?

Question

So you have a third-party web service that likes to abuse XML and return things in an order that makes your programming a complete pain in the neck. For example...

<file>
  <node1>Foo</node1>
  <price>4.99</price>
  <node2>
    <key>XX999</key>
  </node2>
</file>

There are about a thousand of these sorted in order by price.

How can you re-sort this XML document by the key value?

I need the result to be a sorted XML file. Thanks!

EDIT: .NET version 2.0 (no LINQ)

You should define what you mean by sorting. I see nothing wrong with the XML you posted. — John Saunders
– John Saunders, Commented Apr 4, 2009 at 11:53
Assume I have a thousand of those nodes in order by price. I need them sorted in order by key. — Josh Stodola
– Josh Stodola, Commented Apr 5, 2009 at 2:35

Cerebrus · Accepted Answer · 2009-04-04 06:17:41Z

11

Here's how to do it with XSLT:

assuming your data takes this form (file.xml):

<?xml version="1.0"?>
<listing>
<file>
  <node1>Foo</node1>
  <price>4.99</price>
  <node2>
    <key>XX999</key>
  </node2>
</file>
<file>
  <node1>Bar</node1>
  <price>5.67</price>
  <node2>
    <key>aa743</key>
  </node2>
</file>
<file>
  <node1>Was</node1>
  <price>5.67</price>
  <node2>
    <key>rr321</key>
  </node2>
</file>
</listing>

This transform (stylesheet.xsl):

<xsl:stylesheet version="1.0" xmlns:xsl="http://www.w3.org/1999/XSL/Transform">
  <xsl:strip-space elements="*"/>
  <xsl:output method="xml" indent="yes"/>

  <xsl:template match="listing">
    <xsl:copy>
      <xsl:apply-templates select="file">
        <xsl:sort select="node2/key" data-type="text"/>
      </xsl:apply-templates>
    </xsl:copy>
  </xsl:template>

  <xsl:template match="@* | node()">
    <xsl:copy>
      <xsl:apply-templates select="@* | node()"/>
    </xsl:copy>
  </xsl:template>

</xsl:stylesheet>

When used with this .Net code (need to add a using System.Xml;):

XslCompiledTransform xslt= new XslCompiledTransform();
xslt.Load(@"c:\stylesheet.xsl");

xslt.Transform(@"C:\file.xml", @"c:\sorted.xml");

Results in this output in sorted.xml:

<?xml version="1.0" encoding="utf-8"?>
<listing>
  <file>
    <node1>Bar</node1>
    <price>5.67</price>
    <node2>
      <key>aa743</key>
    </node2>
  </file>
  <file>
    <node1>Was</node1>
    <price>5.67</price>
    <node2>
      <key>rr321</key>
    </node2>
  </file>
  <file>
    <node1>Foo</node1>
    <price>4.99</price>
    <node2>
      <key>XX999</key>
    </node2>
  </file>
</listing>

edited Apr 4, 2009 at 6:17

Cerebrus

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answered Apr 4, 2009 at 4:56

Mitch Wheat

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6 Comments

Josh Stodola Over a year ago

No, I need to sort this prior to parsing the XML. I'd prefer to have a way to sort it without casting it to an object.

Josh Stodola Over a year ago

"How are you consuming this data?" It's nothing but a classic HTTP request, and I have a huge string to be parsed.

Josh Stodola Over a year ago

XSLT? Please hook me up with an example or something - I am clueless!

Josh Stodola Over a year ago

OK I am reading W3 specs on XSLT, but what would the select string be?

Cerebrus Over a year ago

Excellent answer! Reformatted your stylesheet to enhance readability.

|

qux · Accepted Answer · 2009-04-04 05:01:54Z

3

Apply an Xml Style Sheet to transform to source XML into an XML format suitable for your use. You can easily sort elements by values during the xsl transformation.

answered Apr 4, 2009 at 5:01

qux

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Comments

Mark Cidade · Accepted Answer · 2009-04-04 06:59:00Z

1

XSLT rules, of course, but I'd go with LINQ To XML (i.e., what's in the System.Xml.Linq namespace). Specifically, what you need to do is something like this:

newElement = new XElement(oldElement.Elements().OrderBy(x => x.Whatever);

edited Apr 4, 2009 at 6:59

Mark Cidade

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answered Apr 4, 2009 at 6:42

Dmitri Nesteruk

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Comments

Ian Suttle · Accepted Answer · 2009-04-04 05:54:09Z

0

Will Linq to XML handle this for you?

answered Apr 4, 2009 at 5:54

Ian Suttle

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