How to change value in xml string?

Question

I have the following method

string UpdateXmlString(string xmlString) {...}

I would like to find all tags which name contain password and delete a value;

Before:

<job xmlns:i=\"...\" xmlns=\"...">
<password>asdfasdf</password>
<adminPassword>asd</adminPassword>
...</job>

Expected result:

<job xmlns:i=\"..." xmlns=\"...">
<password></password>
<adminPassword></adminPassword>
...</job>

How to implement this method?

Why are you working in terms of *strings* when the .NET Framework has an entire *namespace* dedicated to XML tooling that understands XML *natively*? — Damien_The_Unbeliever, Mar 16 '16 at 13:11
And, also, why are you trying to implement a method that suggests it makes changes when it's returning `void` and .NET strings are immutable? — Damien_The_Unbeliever, Mar 16 '16 at 13:12
Possible duplicate of [how to change xml string value on fly](http://stackoverflow.com/questions/14485437/how-to-change-xml-string-value-on-fly) — Ashraf Sada, Mar 16 '16 at 13:26

ManoDestra · Accepted Answer · 2016-03-16T15:33:47.970

2

You should simply be using XmlDocument or XDocument to parse this. I wouldn't manipulate XML strings manually.

using System;
using System.Collections.Generic;
using System.Linq;
using System.Text;
using System.Threading.Tasks;
using System.Xml;
using System.Xml.Linq;

namespace XDocumentTest
{
    class Program
    {
        static void Main(string[] args)
        {
            try
            {
                String xml = "<?xml version=\"1.0\"?><rootElement>";
                xml += "<user id=\"1\"><password>temp</password></user>";
                xml += "<user id=\"2\"><adminPassword>foobar</adminPassword></user>";
                xml += "<user id=\"3\"><somePassWORDelement>foobarXYZ</somePassWORDelement></user>";
                xml += "</rootElement>";
                XDocument doc = XDocument.Parse(xml);
                foreach (XElement element in doc.Descendants().Where(
                    e => e.Name.ToString().ToLower().Contains("password")))
                {
                    Console.WriteLine(element);
                    // Delete your value here. Either changing the text node
                    // or by removing the password node. E.g.

                    element.Value = string.Empty;
                }

                Console.WriteLine(doc.ToString());
            }
            catch (Exception e)
            {
                Console.WriteLine(e);
            }

            while (Console.ReadKey(true).Key != ConsoleKey.Escape)
            {
            }
        }
    }
}

edited Mar 16 '16 at 15:33

answered Mar 16 '16 at 13:16

ManoDestra

6,325
6
26
50

Does `Descendants` find tag with name `adminPassword`? – Mar 16 '16 at 13:33
Sure. Just change the tag name in the code above from password to adminPassword. – ManoDestra Mar 16 '16 at 15:10
No, as I said in my question I would like to find all tags with `password` in name( I mean `name.Contains("password")`) – Mar 16 '16 at 15:16
1

You could have been clearer on that point. Might be worth updating your question to state that the element name should CONTAIN password rather "with password in name". That seems to suggest that you want elements named password. I'll update my answer in a moment to reflect this new requirement. – ManoDestra Mar 16 '16 at 15:19
Okay, I've updated the example accordingly to look for any instance of password, case-insensitive, in a full console app example. – ManoDestra Mar 16 '16 at 15:34
foreach (XElement element in doc.Descendants().Where( e => e.Name.ToString().ToLower().Contains("password"))) { Console.WriteLine(element); // Delete your value here. Either changing the text node // or by removing the password node. E.g. element.Value = string.Empty; } Helped me to change values in an XML string I had. Thanks. – Shammie May 05 '23 at 13:42

score 0 · Answer 2 · answered Mar 16 '16 at 13:15

0

You should use XPathNavigator.

In MSDN are some examples that will help you: https://msdn.microsoft.com/en-us/library/zx28tfx1(v=vs.110).aspx

answered Mar 16 '16 at 13:15

Simon Martinelli

34,053
5
48
82

score 0 · Answer 3 · answered Mar 16 '16 at 13:22

var doc = XDocument.Load(path); 

var element = doc.Descendants("YOUR_Descendants")
                    .Where(arg => arg.Attribute("ExampleID").Value == "3" )// 
                    .Single();

element.Element("UpdateElements")
    .Element("UpdateElements_fc").Value = "222";// update
                doc.Save(path); //save

How to change value in xml string?

3 Answers3