The top XML element 'Data' from namespace '' references distinct types

Question

I have to send Active Directory data to a third-party application. This third-party application provides a .WSDL URL which I have added as a Service Reference in my .NET application. After this I have to call a function "Import" which looks something like this:

Import(Security security, string Data, int FolderID)

Here 'Data' is the XML data that needs to be transferred. I have an XML something like this:

            var xEle = new XElement("Document",
                        from emp in lstADUsers
                        select new XElement("Record",
                                     new XElement("UserName", emp.UserName),
                                       new XAttribute("FirstName", "TEST_FNAME"),
                                       new XAttribute("LastName", "Test_LNAME"),
                                       new XAttribute("Email", "test@test.com")
                                   ));

I call the Import method as:

Import(token, xEle, 1)

When this method is hit, I am getting below error:

The top XML element 'Data' from namespace '' references distinct types System.String and System.Byte[]. Use XML attributes to specify another XML name or namespace for the element or types.

The third-party application expects SOAP data.

Extra details

SOAP envelope looks like this:

<soapenv:Envelope xmlns:soapenv='http://schemas.xmlsoap.org/soap/envelope/' xmlns:sec='http://schemas.xmlsoap.org/ws/2003/06/secext' xmlns:wsu='http://schemas.xmlsoap.org/ws/2003/06/utility' 
xmlns:urn='urn:TestApp'>

   <soapenv:Header>

      <sec:Security>

         <sec:UsernameToken wsu:Id='TestApp'>

            <sec:Username>TestUser</sec:Username>

            <!--Optional:-->

            <sec:Password>TestPassword</sec:Password>

         </sec:UsernameToken>

      </sec:Security>

   </soapenv:Header>

   <soapenv:Body>

     <urn:ImportData>
     <Table></Table>

         <FolderId>0</FolderId>

         <Data><![CDATA[<Document>

         <Record></Record>
</Document>
</Data>

Code Changes Below

 /// <summary>
/// Summary description for ThirdPArtyApp
/// </summary>
[WebService(Namespace = "http://tempuri.org/")]
[WebServiceBinding(ConformsTo = WsiProfiles.BasicProfile1_1)]
[System.ComponentModel.ToolboxItem(false)]
// To allow this Web Service to be called from script, using ASP.NET AJAX, uncomment the following line. 
// [System.Web.Script.Services.ScriptService]
public class ThirdParty : System.Web.Services.WebService
{

    public Header header;


    [WebMethod]
    [SoapHeader("header", Direction = SoapHeaderDirection.InOut)]
    public void CreateXmlForImport()
    {

   ThirdParty_Serv thirdParty = new ThirdParty_Serv();


        header.Username = "test123";
        header.Password = "XYZ123";

            const string FILENAME = @"D:\Users\Documents\test.xml";
            XDocument doc = XDocument.Load(FILENAME);
            XNamespace nsUrn = doc.Root.GetNamespaceOfPrefix("urn");
            XElement importData = doc.Descendants(nsUrn + "ImportData").FirstOrDefault();
            XElement xCdata = new XElement("Document",
                                    new XElement("Record",
                                     new XAttribute("UserName", "T12345"),
                                       new XAttribute("FirstName", "TEST_RP"),
                                       new XAttribute("LastName", "Test_LNAME"),
                                       new XAttribute("Email", "test@test.com")
                                   ));
        
            string cDataStr = xCdata.ToString();
            XCData cdata = new XCData(cDataStr);

            thirdParty.ImportData("/Do/Persons", 0, cDataStr, 3);

    }
}

Answer 1

I used the schema to get correct structure. From VS you can test the syntax by going to menu Project:Add New Item : Xml File. Than past the xml into view. Errors will show like compiler errors in the Error List. Also if you type an opening angle bracket is will show the elements that can be added in any section.

I used following xml

<soapenv:Envelope xmlns:soapenv='http://schemas.xmlsoap.org/soap/envelope/' xmlns:sec='http://schemas.xmlsoap.org/ws/2003/06/secext' xmlns:wsu='http://schemas.xmlsoap.org/ws/2003/06/utility'
xmlns:urn='urn:TestApp'>
    <soapenv:Header>
        <sec:Security>
            <sec:UsernameToken wsu:Id='TestApp'>
                <sec:Username>TestUser</sec:Username>
                <!--Optional:-->
                <sec:Password>TestPassword</sec:Password>
            </sec:UsernameToken>
        </sec:Security>
    </soapenv:Header>
    <soapenv:Body>
        <urn:ImportData>
            <Table></Table>
            <FolderId>0</FolderId>
            <Record></Record>
        </urn:ImportData>
    </soapenv:Body>
</soapenv:Envelope>

Here is my code

        const string FILENAME = @"c:\temp\test.xml";
        static void Main(string[] args)
        {
            XDocument doc = XDocument.Load(FILENAME);
            XNamespace nsUrn = doc.Root.GetNamespaceOfPrefix("urn");
            XElement importData = doc.Descendants(nsUrn + "ImportData").FirstOrDefault();
            XElement xCdata = new XElement("Record",
                                     new XElement("UserName", "username"),
                                       new XAttribute("FirstName", "TEST_FNAME"),
                                       new XAttribute("LastName", "Test_LNAME"),
                                       new XAttribute("Email", "test@test.com")
                                   );
            string cDataStr = xCdata.ToString();
            XCData cdata = new XCData(cDataStr);
            importData.Add(cdata);

        }

Here is final Xml

<?xml version="1.0"?>
<soapenv:Envelope xmlns:urn="urn:TestApp" xmlns:wsu="http://schemas.xmlsoap.org/ws/2003/06/utility" xmlns:sec="http://schemas.xmlsoap.org/ws/2003/06/secext" xmlns:soapenv="http://schemas.xmlsoap.org/soap/envelope/">
    <soapenv:Header>
        <sec:Security>
            <sec:UsernameToken wsu:Id="TestApp">
                <sec:Username>TestUser</sec:Username>
                <!--Optional:-->
                <sec:Password>TestPassword</sec:Password>
            </sec:UsernameToken>
        </sec:Security>
    </soapenv:Header>
    <soapenv:Body>
        <urn:ImportData>
            <Table/>
            <FolderId>0</FolderId>
            <Record/>
            <![CDATA[<Record FirstName="TEST_FNAME" LastName="Test_LNAME" Email="test@test.com"><UserName>username</UserName></Record>]]>
        </urn:ImportData>
    </soapenv:Body>
</soapenv:Envelope>