Fetching XML Data Through Language Integrated Query In C#

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Fetching XML Data Through Language Integrated Query In C#

Introduction

LINQ stands for Language Integrated Query. LINQ was introduced with .NET 3.5 & can be used with C# or Visual Basic to query different data sources.

We will see how LINQ works with XML and fetch the corresponding XML data in our Grid.

Let's get started.

Step 1

Add an xml file to your project and add the code below.

Here, the xml has three employees with all the details.

File Name - Employee.xml

<?xml version="1.0" encoding="utf-8" ?>
<Employees>
<Employee>
<FirstName>Rita</FirstName>
<LastName>Muller</LastName>
<Age>25</Age>
<HireDate>11/24/2011</HireDate>
</Employee>
<Employee>
<FirstName>Martin</FirstName>
<LastName>Sommer</LastName>
<Age>31</Age>
<HireDate>7/15/2007</HireDate>
</Employee>
<Employee>
<FirstName>Paul</FirstName>
<LastName>Lincoln</LastName>
<Age>29</Age>
<HireDate>5/8/2009</HireDate>
</Employee>
</Employees>

Step 2

Next on Page Load event of the .cs file add the section of code.

protected void Page_Load(object sender, EventArgs e) {
string file = Server.MapPath("Employee.xml");
XElement element = XElement.Load(file);
var employees = from employee in element.Descendants("Employee")
select new {
FN = employee.Element("FirstName").Value,
LN = employee.Element("LastName").Value,
Age = employee.Element("Age").Value,
HireDate = employee.Element("HireDate").Value,
};
GridView1.DataSource = employees;
GridView1.DataBind();
}

Step 3

Finally we are in good shape to implement the code inside the .aspx file,

<html
xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml">
<head runat="server">
<title></title>
</head>
<body>
<form id="form1" runat="server">
<div>
<asp:GridView ID="GridView1" runat="server" AutoGenerateColumns="false">
<Columns>
<asp:BoundField HeaderText="FirstName" DataField="FN" />
<asp:BoundField HeaderText="LastName" DataField="LN" />
<asp:BoundField HeaderText="Age" DataField="Age" />
<asp:BoundField HeaderText="HireDate" DataField="HireDate" />
</Columns>
</asp:GridView>
</div>
</form>
</body>
</html>

Happy learning.