XDocument was introduced with LINQ to manipulate and query XML Document with ease. Here are some useful tips.
1. Create a simple XDocument
Dim myDoc As XDocument = <?xml version="1.0" encoding="utf-8"?><MyDocument></MyDocument>
2. Merge multiple XDcouments in one with variables and formats
Dim xDocFooter As XDocument = Nothing
Dim docName As String = "XDocument"
Dim docDate As Date = Now
xDocHeader = <?xml version="1.0" encoding="utf-8"?>
<DocumentHeader>
<DocID>1</DocID>
<DocName><%= docName %></DocName>
<DocDesc>Test Document 1</DocDesc>
<DocDate><%= If(docDate > Date.MinValue, Format(docDate, "yyyy-MM-dd"), "1900-01-01") %></DocDate>
</DocumentHeader>
xDocFooter = <?xml version="1.0" encoding="utf-8"?>
<DocumentFooter>
<FooterName>Footer 1</FooterName>
<FooterDesc>End Of Document</FooterDesc>
</DocumentFooter>
myDoc.Root.Add(xDocHeader.Elements)
myDoc.Root.Add(xDocFooter.Elements)
3. Load XML file as XDocument
Dim xdoc As XDocument = Nothing
xdoc = XDocument.Load("C:\TestXML.xml", LoadOptions.PreserveWhitespace)
4. Read XDocument from/to XML String
Dim xmlString As String = "<MyDocument>Test Doc</MyDocument>"
xdoc = XDocument.Parse(xmlString, LoadOptions.PreserveWhitespace) 'Loading from XML String
xmlString = xdoc.ToString() 'To XML String
5. Read XDocument Elements values
If myDoc.Root.Element("DocumentHeader") IsNot Nothing AndAlso myDoc.Root.Element("DocumentHeader").Element("DocName") IsNot Nothing Then
docName = myDoc.Root.Element("DocumentHeader").Element("DocName").Value
End If
If myDoc.Root.Element("DocumentHeader") IsNot Nothing AndAlso myDoc.Root.Element("DocumentHeader").Element("DocDate") IsNot Nothing Then
docDate = myDoc.Root.Element("DocumentHeader").Element("DocDate").Value
End If
6. Add New Or Modify Existing XDocument Element’s value
myDoc.Root.Element("DocumentHeader").Add(New XElement("PageNo", "1"))
myDoc.Root.Element("DocumentHeader").Element("DocDesc").Value = "New Test Document Description"