Populating Values From XML to a DataGridView And From a DataGridView to XML Using C#

Introduction

This document covers how to populate a DataGridView from XML and how to save DataGridView values back to XML.

Steps to configure

1. Open Visual Studio and create a new Windows application.

img1.gif

2.  Add a DataGridView to the form.

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3.  Create a XML file in your local drive (Say D:\ drive) with the following code.

<Dataset>

  <Table1>

    <Server>Server1</Server>

    <Database>Database1</Database>

  </Table1>

  <Table1>

    <Server>Server2</Server>

    <Database>Database2</Database>

  </Table1>

</Dataset>

4. Add the following code in the form load event.

private void Form1_Load(object sender, EventArgs e)

{

    //the path in which XML file is saved

    string path = "D:\\Santhosh\\XMLFile1.xml";

    DataSet ds=new DataSet();

    //Reading XML file and copying to dataset

    ds.ReadXml(path);

    dataGridView1.DataSource = ds;

    dataGridView1.DataMember = "table1";

}

5. Add a Button "Add" below the DataGridView as shown below.

img3.gif

6. Add the following code in the Button click event.

private void button1_Click(object sender, EventArgs e)

 {           

      //path of XML file

       string path = "D:\\Santhosh\\XMLFile1.xml";

       DataSet ds = new DataSet();

       DataTable dt = new DataTable();

       //Adding columns to datatable

       foreach (DataGridViewColumn col in dataGridView1.Columns)

       {

            dt.Columns.Add(col.DataPropertyName, col.ValueType);

        }

       //adding new rows

       foreach (DataGridViewRow row in dataGridView1.Rows)

       {                                   

           DataRow row1 = dt.NewRow();

           for (int i = 0; i < dataGridView1.ColumnCount; i++)

               //if value exists add that value else add Null for that field

               row1[i] = (row.Cells[i].Value == null ? DBNull.Value : row.Cells[i].Value);

               dt.Rows.Add(row1);

        }

        //Copying from datatable to dataset

        ds.Tables.Add(dt);

        //writing new values to XML

        ds.WriteXml(path);

        MessageBox.Show("Successfully added ", "Success");

        this.Close();                          
}

7. Run the solution. The following form should be displayed.

img4.gif

8. Now enter the new values in the DataGridView and click Add. Ensure that the values are being added.

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9. Now check that the new value is being added in the XML file.

<?xml version="1.0" standalone="yes"?>

<NewDataSet>

  <Table1>

    <Server>Server1</Server>

    <Database>Database1</Database>

  </Table1>

  <Table1>

    <Server>Server2</Server>

    <Database>Database2</Database>

  </Table1>

  <Table1>

    <Server>Server3</Server>

    <Database>Database3</Database>

  </Table1>

</NewDataSet>

Using the above concept to create connection string from XML

This can be used to configure a connection string at run time from XML. So the user can add his server name and database in XML and create connections at run time. Now add a DropDown and Button above the DataGridView as shown below. Add the following code in the form load event to populate databases in the dropdown as below.

  //Populating databases value in dropdown

  XmlDocument XMLDoc = new XmlDocument();

  XMLDoc.Load(path);

  //Give Node name here

  XmlNodeList nodelist = XMLDoc.SelectNodes("NewDataSet/Table1");

  foreach(XmlNode node in nodelist)
  {

      comboBox1.Items.Add(node.SelectSingleNode("Database").InnerText);

  }


img6.gif

 

Now add the following code to fetch a server name on selecting a database in the DropDown and click on Connect.

 

private void button2_Click(object sender, EventArgs e)

{

    string path = "D:\\Santhosh\\XMLFile1.xml";

    string server="";

    XmlDocument XMLDoc = new XmlDocument();

    XMLDoc.Load(path);

    //Give Node name here

    XmlNodeList nodelist = XMLDoc.SelectNodes("NewDataSet/Table1");

    foreach (XmlNode node in nodelist)

    {

        if ((node.SelectSingleNode("Database").InnerText) == comboBox1.SelectedItem.ToString())

        {

            server = node.SelectSingleNode("Server").InnerText;

        }

    }

}

Now using the database and server, create a new SqlConnection as usual.

Conclusion

By using the above code, a user can populate a DataGridView from XML and again save back the new values to the XML file. This can be very useful in creating a connection string also.


//Added solution file using VS2010


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