Loading XML file from within a project

[T O'Pry]

I have a project that creates the menus dynamically using XML files that are
loaded using the XMLTextReader object. This works fine as long as the XML
files are external to the project.

I would prefer this information be internal to the project, encapsulated
within each view. I have added an XML file to the project, but have not been
able to find a method to load that XML data into an object usable by the
XMLTextReader.

What method / class will create an object that I can use to accomplish this?

[Dave Lewis]

"T O'Pry" <topry@#nospam#henssler.com> wrote in message
news:3d7a4c58$1@10.1.10.29...
>
> I have a project that creates the menus dynamically using XML files that
are
> loaded using the XMLTextReader object. This works fine as long as the XML
> files are external to the project.
>
> I would prefer this information be internal to the project, encapsulated
> within each view. I have added an XML file to the project, but have not
been
> able to find a method to load that XML data into an object usable by the
> XMLTextReader.
>
> What method / class will create an object that I can use to accomplish
this?

I have just finished implementing this very same thing and what I did was:

1) Created a resource (.resX) file for each form with file names that
reflect the parent form (i.e. frmMain.vb would have resource file named
frmMain.Menu.resx)
2) Add a new value to the resource file which contains the *whole* XML file
with the name "Menu"
3) Use a resource manager object to retrieve the XML from the resource file
which is then passed to the XML reading functions

If you're still having trouble, post again and I'll see if I can dig out
some of the code I use for it.

--
DHL
Never ascribe to malice, that which can be explained by incompetence

[Kathleen Dollard]

Dave,

> I have just finished implementing this very same thing and what I did was:
>
> 1) Created a resource (.resX) file for each form with file names that
> reflect the parent form (i.e. frmMain.vb would have resource file named
> frmMain.Menu.resx)
> 2) Add a new value to the resource file which contains the *whole* XML
file
> with the name "Menu"
> 3) Use a resource manager object to retrieve the XML from the resource
file
> which is then passed to the XML reading functions
>
> If you're still having trouble, post again and I'll see if I can dig out
> some of the code I use for it.

That sounds like a good idea if you want to make your XML file difficult to
edit. If you want it to be easy to edit, You should probably place it in the
executable directory and load it via a relative path.

Kathleen

[T O'Pry]

>I have just finished implementing this very same thing and what I did was:
>
>1) Created a resource (.resX) file for each form with file names that
>reflect the parent form (i.e. frmMain.vb would have resource file named
>frmMain.Menu.resx)
>2) Add a new value to the resource file which contains the *whole* XML file
>with the name "Menu"
>3) Use a resource manager object to retrieve the XML from the resource file
>which is then passed to the XML reading functions
>
>If you're still having trouble, post again and I'll see if I can dig out
>some of the code I use for it.
>
-----------------------

Thanks for the reply.
I have been able to do this via a resource file, which will work, but I was
wondering if there is a method to access the XML data within an XML file
in the project? I'm assuming there must be, otherwise what would be the point
of creating a file of this type?

The resource file method requires a few more steps than I would think necessary
for something relatively straight forward. Not that this is a huge issue,
but I would like to know how this is done so I can evaluate which option
is best for this purpose.

[T O'Pry]

"Kathleen Dollard" <kathleen@mvps.org> wrote:
>That sounds like a good idea if you want to make your XML file difficult
>to edit. If you want it to be easy to edit, You should probably place it
>in the executable directory and load it via a relative path.
>
>Kathleen
>
----------------------------------

Kathleen,

Ease of editing the Menu xml is not an issue in this case. Actually, I prefer
that it be emedded in the objects I am creating for several reasons. While
I have this working as a resource, I would like to know how to load a XML
file from within the project.

Can you advise what class/method that can accomplish that?

Regards,

Tim

[Dave Lewis]

"T O'Pry" <topry@#nospam#henssler.com> wrote in message
news:3d7b9ed1$1@10.1.10.29...
>
> >I have just finished implementing this very same thing and what I did
was:
> >
> >1) Created a resource (.resX) file for each form with file names that
> >reflect the parent form (i.e. frmMain.vb would have resource file named
> >frmMain.Menu.resx)
> >2) Add a new value to the resource file which contains the *whole* XML
file
> >with the name "Menu"
> >3) Use a resource manager object to retrieve the XML from the resource
file
> >which is then passed to the XML reading functions
> >
> >If you're still having trouble, post again and I'll see if I can dig out
> >some of the code I use for it.
> >
> -----------------------
>
> Thanks for the reply.
> I have been able to do this via a resource file, which will work, but I
was
> wondering if there is a method to access the XML data within an XML file
> in the project? I'm assuming there must be, otherwise what would be the
point
> of creating a file of this type?

I think I see you point. You want to add an XML file to the project, set
it's "Build Action" property to "Compile" (so that the file is part of the
object) and then use the regular file loading methods to manipulate the XML?
I did do a quick test to see if the file is compiled into the object (which
it is), but I have no idea how to get the text back out again, because I
don't have a reference to it.

> The resource file method requires a few more steps than I would think
necessary
> for something relatively straight forward. Not that this is a huge issue,
> but I would like to know how this is done so I can evaluate which option
> is best for this purpose.

Yes, I know what you mean. I'll continue looking and if I find anything,
I'll come back and post it.

--
DHL
Never ascribe to malice, that which can be explained by incompetence

[Dave Lewis]

"Kathleen Dollard" <kathleen@mvps.org> wrote in message
news:3d7b454a$1@10.1.10.29...
> Dave,
>
> > I have just finished implementing this very same thing and what I did
was:
> >
> > 1) Created a resource (.resX) file for each form with file names that
> > reflect the parent form (i.e. frmMain.vb would have resource file named
> > frmMain.Menu.resx)
> > 2) Add a new value to the resource file which contains the *whole* XML
> file
> > with the name "Menu"
> > 3) Use a resource manager object to retrieve the XML from the resource
> file
> > which is then passed to the XML reading functions
> >
> > If you're still having trouble, post again and I'll see if I can dig out
> > some of the code I use for it.
>
> That sounds like a good idea if you want to make your XML file difficult
to
> edit. If you want it to be easy to edit, You should probably place it in
the
> executable directory and load it via a relative path.

Kathleen,

Whether or not the file is difficult to edit is the lesser concern for me.
The greater concern is not allowing an end user to tinker with the XML and
the easiest way to do that is to embed it into the object. To edit it
myself, I just fire up XML Spy, change whatever needs changing and then copy
and paste the result into the resource file. Not an ideal solution I agree
but it works.

--
DHL
Never ascribe to malice, that which can be explained by incompetence

[Kathleen Dollard]

Tim,

To work with the DOM

Dim xmlDoc as new XML.XMLDocument
xmlDoc.Load(filename)

To work with fragments via a really cool internal implementation of XSLT
use the Xml.Xpath.XPathNavigator and related classes (node iterator, etc)

To work with a single pass forward-only, very fast, works with large files
approach, use the XmlReader. This is SAX like if that model would be the one
you'd choose for your particular problem, but is a pull, not a push model.

Kathleen

"T O'Pry" <topry@#nospam#henssler.com> wrote in message
news:3d7b9f9f$1@10.1.10.29...
>
> "Kathleen Dollard" <kathleen@mvps.org> wrote:
> >That sounds like a good idea if you want to make your XML file difficult
> >to edit. If you want it to be easy to edit, You should probably place it
> >in the executable directory and load it via a relative path.
> >
> >Kathleen
> >
> ----------------------------------
>
> Kathleen,
>
> Ease of editing the Menu xml is not an issue in this case. Actually, I
prefer
> that it be emedded in the objects I am creating for several reasons. While
> I have this working as a resource, I would like to know how to load a XML
> file from within the project.
>
> Can you advise what class/method that can accomplish that?
>
> Regards,
>
> Tim
>

[Kathleen Dollard]

Tim,

I think I misunderstood your question, sorry.

Kathleen

<topry@#nospam#henssler.com> wrote in message news:3d7b9f9f$1@10.1.10.29...
>
> "Kathleen Dollard" <kathleen@mvps.org> wrote:
> >That sounds like a good idea if you want to make your XML file difficult
> >to edit. If you want it to be easy to edit, You should probably place it
> >in the executable directory and load it via a relative path.
> >
> >Kathleen
> >
> ----------------------------------
>
> Kathleen,
>
> Ease of editing the Menu xml is not an issue in this case. Actually, I
prefer
> that it be emedded in the objects I am creating for several reasons. While
> I have this working as a resource, I would like to know how to load a XML
> file from within the project.
>
> Can you advise what class/method that can accomplish that?
>
> Regards,
>
> Tim
>

[T O'Pry]

"Kathleen Dollard" <kathleen@mvps.org> wrote:
>Tim,
>
>To work with the DOM
>
>Dim xmlDoc as new XML.XMLDocument
>xmlDoc.Load(filename)
>
------------------------------
That works with an external file or existing stream - but not with a file
of type .XML within the project.

Still haven't been able to find a way to access that object type - although
I would think there must be one.