Design Strongly typed object from XML

Question

I have a couple of XML files that I need to work with, and I've always used the XElement objects and pulled the data via the attribute name or the XElement's value.

I know there has to be a better way of using XML in C#. What is the best way to either auto generate or manually generate a strong typed object from the XML file?

The xml is in the form of

<Group id="####">
    <title>Some Title</title>
    <description>some description</description>
    <Rule id="ID_##" severity="medium" weight="10.0">
        <version>1.001</version>
        <title>Another Title</title>
        <description>Very long description</description>
        <fixtext fixref="F-31r1_fix">Description of fix</fixtext>
        <fix id="F-31r1_fix"/>
        <check system="C-7883r4_chk">
            <check-content-ref name="M" href="URI"/>
            <check-content>Content</check-content>
        </check>
    </Rule>
</Group>

If I could parse an XML file into a List<Group> that would be the best.

The only way I can think to do it is manually create the Group, Rule, and Check objects and manually assign the data. If there is a better, more automated way to do this, please let me know!

Mark Avenius · Accepted Answer · 2011-03-03T16:36:42.747

You can use xsd.exe (which installs with the windows SDK, but in various locations depending on version - mine is currently in C:\Program Files (x86)\Microsoft SDKs\Windows\v7.0A\Bin) to generate and xsd from the file, or a cs code file.

For example:

xsd.exe myFile.xml

will get you myFile.xsd in the location of the xml file.

Then,

xsd.exe myFile.xsd /c

will get you a .cs file with the classes defined. Try xsd.exe /? for full options (you can specify namespaces, etc. as well).

score 4 · Answer 2 · answered Mar 03 '11 at 16:32

Check out Linq to XSD:

The LINQ to XSD technology provides .NET developers with support for typed XML programming. LINQ to XSD contributes to the LINQ project (.NET Language Integrated Query); in particular, LINQ to XSD enhances the existing LINQ to XML technology.

score 1 · Answer 3 · answered Mar 03 '11 at 16:31

1

If you have a schema for the XML you can generate classes using tools such as xsd.exe (windows SDK), svcutil.exe (WCF) or (my personal preference) an open source alternative (Xsd2Code).

answered Mar 03 '11 at 16:31

MattDavey

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score 1 · Answer 4 · answered Mar 03 '11 at 16:31

You could put annotations on your class and then use an XmlSerializer to serialize/deserialize your class instances to/from XML - if you need a more customized approach have your class also implement IXmlSerializable then put that serialization/deserialization code within the class.

score 1 · Answer 5 · answered Mar 03 '11 at 16:32

1

If you're able to change the XML format to suit your needs, one way I know of is using WSDL.

answered Mar 03 '11 at 16:32

Justin Morgan - On strike

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Design Strongly typed object from XML

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