Combining two .xml files (not merging !), and parsing combined file into two .xml streams

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Hi, I'm using two third-party components, each with their own built-in serializer that will write .xml to stream, or file.

I want to save one file that contains both .xml streams, but does not "merge" them ... in the sense of "combining" them where the difference between the two files is "lost."

Obviously, I could append one file to the other, and write some kind of delimiter string so that, in parsing, I could distinguish the two files, but, I suspect there's a simpler solution using LinqToXml, or XSLT, or something ... hence: this question.

At run-time I will want to read the combined file, and quickly create two .xml streams each of which can be "fed" to the two components, so they will be "re-constituted."

I'd appreciate general advice on strategy here; it's been a long while since I've messed around with .xml.

thanks, Bill

Posted 30-Jun-14 19:55pm

BillWoodruff

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George Jonsson · Accepted Answer · 2014-06-30T20:22:00

Solution 1

You could try to create a third structure with the two other structures as elements.
Not exactly sure this is what you want.

XML

<combined>
  <files>
    <file id="1">
      <data>Some data in file 1</data>
    </file>
    <file id="2">
      <content>Something for file 2</content>
    </file>
  </files>
</combined>

This will preserve the existing structure and you can save the file as one or as different parts by using e.g. XElement.

C#

string combinedData = "<combined><files><file id=\"1\"><data>Some data in file 1</data></file><file id=\"2\"><content>Something for file 2</content></file></files></combined>";

// Use XDocument.Load() to read from file
XDocument xdoc = XDocument.Parse(combinedData);
XElement xeFiles = xdoc.Root.Element("files");


XElement xeFile1 = xeFiles.Elements("file").Where(x => x.Attribute("id").Value == "1").FirstOrDefault();
string file1Content = xeFile1.FirstNode.ToString();

XElement xeFile2 = xeFiles.Elements("file").Where(x => x.Attribute("id").Value == "2").FirstOrDefault();
string file2Content = xeFile2.FirstNode.ToString();

Posted 30-Jun-14 20:22pm

George Jonsson

Updated 1-Jul-14 22:15pm

v3

Comments

BillWoodruff 1-Jul-14 2:36am

Thanks for your response, George; that is the obvious solution. My wish, in posting this question, is to find, if possible, a simpler way to do this perhaps using a feature of xml, or xslt, I am not familiar with.

George Jonsson 1-Jul-14 5:32am

Sometimes the obvious answer is the right answer. :)
Well, both XDocument and XElement belongs to Linq technology.

You don't tell much about about your data structure. Without knowing that it is pretty difficult to start on the XSLT path in my experience.

George Jonsson 1-Jul-14 5:36am

I can remove my answer if you think it is not adequate, so your question appears again in the unanswered list.

BillWoodruff 2-Jul-14 1:52am

Hi George, please don't remove your answer; I just voted it #4, and I agree with you that there's nothing wrong with an "obvious" answer :) Your positive intention to be helpful is appreciated ! If there are no other replies in a few days, I will accept your answer. cheers, Bill

George Jonsson 2-Jul-14 4:15am

Just for the fun of it I added an example as well. :)

BillWoodruff 2-Jul-14 4:31am

Can't ask for more than this :) Answer accepted, and vote changed to #5. thanks !

In this case, both 3rd. party (non-MS) components can save to an Xml memory stream, so I suspect that I can find a way to join both streams that is parallel to your solution with strings ... failing that, I'll just convert/access the streams into strings, and use your technique.

George Jonsson 2-Jul-14 4:45am

Thanks for the vote.

XDocument.Load(Stream stream) is one of the overloaded methods.

George Jonsson 2-Jul-14 4:50am

XElement.Load(Stream stream) also works.

BillWoodruff 4-Jul-14 1:06am

Thanks for the additional information, George ! I am just at the point where I have achieved read-write proof-of-concept for the very complex three-part serialization that expresses the state (presentation, data) of both 3rd. party components in two files, and the "inter-relationships" between the two components in a third file. At this point, naturally, my goal is to write all of these to memory streams, and then combine the streams into one structured stream that will then be saved to one file.

Ideally, combination of the three streams would be done without creating huge strings. Depending on my progress this week, I may post another question here.

cheers, Bill

g.bhangu 28-Jun-17 0:01am

this above file is resultant 33.xml file .