XML message generation

George_George

Hello everyone, I need to generate some XML message, but the message can not be reflected from members or properties of class instance directly. Currently, I am using StringBuilder to append strings into XML message manually (e.g. to generate the element's hierarchies and add attributes to element), I think this method is stupid. Any better approaches recommended? thanks in advance, George

natsuyaki

XMLDocument can be better than StringBuilder...

George_George

Thanks natsuyaki, 1. I read some documents for XMLDocument and XMLElement, looks like we need to use DOM model, right? 2. I have not found some good samples for a beginner, I have XML knowledge before and just want to learn how to use the C# classes. Any referred samples? regards, George

N a v a n e e t h

You can use XMLTextWriter or XMLDocument. XMLTextWriter will be faster.

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N a v a n e e t h

George_George wrote:

looks like we need to use DOM model, right?

Yes. XMLDocument use DOM. When file is loaded, it loads the entire file into memory. So if the file is very large, this method is inefficient. Calling Save() method on this class instance will save all the changes made to the instance.

George_George wrote:

Any referred samples?

I think MSDN has enough documentation on using these classes. It's pretty easy.

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George_George

Good N a v a n e e t h, I have found a good sample from, http://www.c-sharpcorner.com/UploadFile/mahesh/ReadWriteXMLTutMellli2111282005041517AM/ReadWriteXMLTutMellli21.aspx[^] regards, George

George_George

Thanks N a v a n e e t h, XMLTextWriter will not use DOM model and only loads necessary nodes other than all nodes (which is done in DOM model)? regards, George

N a v a n e e t h

George_George wrote:

XMLTextWriter will not use DOM model and only loads necessary nodes other than all nodes

XMLTextWriter won't load any nodes. It is used to create XML documents. It has some methods which you can use to create nodes, attributes etc.

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vytheese

If your using .NET 3.5 Try to use XElement using System.Xml.Linq its pretty easy, fast and convinient when compared to DOM

Regards, Vythees Miles to go before sleep...

George_George

Sorry, N a v a n e e t h! My bad, I mean XMLTextReader, it will not load the entire tree as DOM, like XMLDocument, and it will only loads necessary nodes, right? regards, George

George_George

Thanks Vythees, I need to use .Net 2.0 in current project, do you have any suggestions? regards, George

N a v a n e e t h

Yes. It will not load the full file initially. XMLDocument class is also using a reader internally to fill the data.

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George_George

Thanks N a v a n e e t h, 1. So, can I understand that using XMLDocument has better performance compared with XMLTextReader, but bigger memory footprint. 2. XMLDocument can both read/write, but XMLTextReader can only read, and XMLTextWriter can only write? regards, George

N a v a n e e t h

George_George wrote:

So, can I understand that using XMLDocument has better performance compared with XMLTextReader, but bigger memory footprint.

This depends on the XML file size. When you call Load() method in an XMLDocument classes instance, it reads all the nodes and forms a DOM and keeps in the memory. So when the file is huge, it will consume more memory. Performance is dependent of your scenario. If you need to read the XMLFile (not as DOM), XMLTextReader will give good performance. For creating a new xml file, XMLTextWriter will give good performance. Say, in a situation where you will add new nodes, change the attributes, and doing some XPath queries, then better choice would be XMLDocument class.

George_George wrote:

XMLDocument can both read/write, but XMLTextReader can only read, and XMLTextWriter can only write?

XMLDocument class can do more than read/write. It supports XPath queries also.

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George_George

Great N a v a n e e t h! If I only need to read XML documents (in a file) into memory and get some values for some elements, then I think using XMLDocument will always have better performance, since all nodes are in memory (compared with XMLTextReader, only parts of nodes are in memory). Why do you think it is not always true? regards, George

N a v a n e e t h

George_George wrote:

If I only need to read XML documents (in a file) into memory and get some values for some elements, then I think using XMLDocument will always have better performance

If the file size is less, you won't find any performance differences. XMLDocument provides an easy way to load and edit data. You can go with any methods which really suits your scenario.

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George_George

Thanks N a v a n e e t h, If the size of file is big, using XMLDocument is of better performance? :-) regards, George

vytheese

Go for XMLDocument since its easy to maintain, futuristic, and supports XPath queries.

Regards, Vythees Miles to go before sleep...

George_George

Thanks Vythees, What do you think the pros and cons compared with XMLDocument and XMLTextWriter from functional and performance perspective? regards, George