Read a connection string from a XML file

Question

I've read about all I could get on how to read from an XML file, but I can't get anything done. I want to read a connectionstring from an XML file, plain and simple, nothing more.

My XML looks like

<?xml version="1.0" standalone="yes"?>
<connectionString>  
    <conn>"adsf"</conn>
</connectionString>

And I've tried varios way with

XmlDocument doc = new XmlDocument();
XmlTextReader reader = new XmlTextReader(xmlLoc);

while (reader.MoveToNextAttribute())
{
    XmlNode a = doc.ReadNode(reader);
    textBox1.Text = Text + a.Name;
}

XmlDocument xml = new XmlDocument();
xml.LoadXml(xmlLoc); //myXmlString is the xml file in string //copying xml to string: string myXmlString = xmldoc.OuterXml.ToString();
XmlNodeList xnList = xml.SelectNodes("/connectionString");

foreach (XmlNode xn in xnList)
{
    XmlNode example = xn.SelectSingleNode("conn");

    if (example != null)
    {
        string na = example["Name"].InnerText;
        string no = example["NO"].InnerText;
    }
}

I'm missing something and I'm not sure what, this should be a very simple task, but I can't get it done. Any help?

I'm trying to do it in a WIndows form application program.

why don't you use .net's built in facilities for app.config? — Daniel A. White, May 19 '15 at 15:10
@DanielA.White becouse I'm kinda new to visual studion and C#. I could use app.config with no problems, but I would need some clear steps on what to do, whatever I found untill now couldn't get me to the end. — CiucaS, May 19 '15 at 15:12

score 6 · Accepted Answer · edited May 06 '19 at 05:39

6

I'm missing something?

Yes. .NET has a built in mechanism for storing your connection string, inside an App.config file, there is no reason to manually store it and parse it yourself.

Right click your project, go to Add -> New Item

Then, add a "Application Configuration File":

Application Configuration File

Once it opens, add a connectionStrings node to it, as follows:

// This is an example of a connectionString node. You may add child
// values to it as follows
<connectionStrings>
  <add name="YourConnectionStringKey" 
             providerName="System.Data.SqlClient"
             connectionString="Data Source=.\SQLEXPRESS;Initial Catalog=YourDB;Trusted_Connection=Yes" />
</connectionStrings>

Then, you access it using ConfigurationManager.ConnectionStrings:

string connectionString = 
                ConfigurationManager.ConnectionStrings["YourConnectionStringKey"].ConnectionString;

edited May 06 '19 at 05:39

Justin Kindrix

29
8

answered May 19 '15 at 15:17

Yuval Itzchakov

146,575
32
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321

What do I have to add for ConfigurationManager? It doesn't find the reference. Error 1 The name 'ConfigurationManager' does not exist in the current context – CiucaS May 19 '15 at 20:38
@CiucaS You'll need to add reference to `System.Configuration.dll` – Yuval Itzchakov May 19 '15 at 20:40
I only have ansamblies and Internal – CiucaS May 19 '15 at 20:43
@CiucaS I don't understand what you mean. – Yuval Itzchakov May 19 '15 at 20:44
I don't have System.Configuration.DLL ony .Ansamblies and .Internal – CiucaS May 19 '15 at 20:51
What type of project template are you using? Class library? – Yuval Itzchakov May 19 '15 at 20:53
It's a WFA and it's a form. – CiucaS May 19 '15 at 21:11
there seem to be a problem with NETFramework 4.5, i can't add System.Configuration.DLL on my project. No idea why. – CiucaS May 19 '15 at 21:40
Never mind i was trying to add System.Configuration.DLL not System.Configuration only. – CiucaS May 19 '15 at 22:05
"There is no reason to manually store it and parse it yourself", Yes there is, what is you want different config files? – Paul McCarthy Jun 08 '17 at 13:41

score 2 · Answer 2 · answered May 19 '15 at 15:24

You can use linq to xml.

var xmlStr = File.ReadAllText("fileName.xml");


var str = XElement.Parse(xmlStr);

var result = str.Elements("word").
Where(x => x.Element("connectionString").Value.Equals("conn"));

Console.WriteLine(result);

This might work (or may be some changes you need to make.

score 0 · Answer 3 · answered May 19 '15 at 15:16

0

var x = XElement.Parse(@"<?xml version=""1.0"" standalone=""yes""?><connectionString><conn>adsf</conn></connectionString>");
// or var x = XElement.Load(@"c:\temp\my.xml");
var s = x.Element("conn").Value;

answered May 19 '15 at 15:16

stovroz

6,835
2
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score 0 · Answer 4 · answered Feb 09 '18 at 19:36

If you still have not found your answer then try this (a bit old school but it worked for me)

public class Common
    {
        public Common()
        {
        }
//      public static string GetXML()
//      {
//          return @"C:\MyLocation\Connections.xml";
//      }
        public static string GetXMLconn(string strConn)
        {
            string xmlConStr = "";
            //
            string XMLconn = @"C:\Mylocation\Connections.xml"; 

            // Get the Connection String from the XML file.
            XmlTextReader textReader  = new XmlTextReader(XMLconn);
            textReader.Read();
            while (textReader.Read())
            {
                // Read the currect element in the loop
                textReader.MoveToElement();
                // If the element name is correct then read and assign the connection string
                if (textReader.Name == strConn)
                {
                    xmlConStr = textReader.ReadString();
                }
            }
            textReader.Close();

            return xmlConStr;

        }

}

Read a connection string from a XML file

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