Generate XML file in C# with XSD file

Question

I am trying to build a new XML file with C# using an existing XSD file. this is the xsd file :

<?xml version="1.0" encoding="utf-8"?>
<xsd:schema xmlns:xsd="http://www.w3.org/2001/XMLSchema">
<xsd:element name="KilometerUpload">
<xsd:complexType>
    <xsd:sequence>
        <xsd:element minOccurs="1" maxOccurs="unbounded" name="KilometerRegistration">
            <xsd:complexType>
                <xsd:sequence>
                    <xsd:element name="ChassisNumber">
                        <xsd:simpleType>
                            <xsd:restriction base="xsd:string">
                                <xsd:maxLength value="17" />
                                <xsd:minLength value="1" />
                            </xsd:restriction>
                        </xsd:simpleType>
                    </xsd:element>
                    <xsd:element name="KilometerStatus">
                        <xsd:simpleType>
                            <xsd:restriction base="xsd:string">
                                <xsd:maxLength value="7" />
                                <xsd:minLength value="1" />
                            </xsd:restriction>
                        </xsd:simpleType>
                    </xsd:element>
                    <xsd:element name="TypeOfData">
                        <xsd:simpleType>
                            <xsd:restriction base="xsd:string">
                                <xsd:maxLength value="3" />
                                <xsd:minLength value="1" />
                            </xsd:restriction>
                        </xsd:simpleType>
                    </xsd:element>
                    <xsd:element name="ObservationDate">
                        <xsd:annotation>
                            <xsd:documentation>Format: yyyyMMdd</xsd:documentation>
                        </xsd:annotation>
                        <xsd:simpleType>
                            <xsd:restriction base="xsd:string">
                                <xsd:maxLength value="8" />
                                <xsd:minLength value="8" />
                            </xsd:restriction>
                        </xsd:simpleType>
                    </xsd:element>
                    <xsd:element name="LegallyResponsible">
                        <xsd:simpleType>
                            <xsd:restriction base="xsd:string">
                                <xsd:maxLength value="10" />
                                <xsd:minLength value="10" />
                            </xsd:restriction>
                        </xsd:simpleType>
                    </xsd:element>
                    <xsd:element name="EnteredBy">
                        <xsd:simpleType>
                            <xsd:restriction base="xsd:string">
                                <xsd:maxLength value="10" />
                                <xsd:minLength value="10" />
                            </xsd:restriction>
                        </xsd:simpleType>
                    </xsd:element>
                    <xsd:element name="InternalCode">
                        <xsd:simpleType>
                            <xsd:restriction base="xsd:string">
                                <xsd:maxLength value="10" />
                                <xsd:minLength value="0" />
                            </xsd:restriction>
                        </xsd:simpleType>
                    </xsd:element>
                    <xsd:element name="DateFirstRegistration">
                        <xsd:annotation>
                            <xsd:documentation>Format: yyyyMMdd</xsd:documentation>
                        </xsd:annotation>
                        <xsd:simpleType>
                            <xsd:restriction base="xsd:string">
                                <xsd:maxLength value="8" />
                                <xsd:minLength value="0" />
                            </xsd:restriction>
                        </xsd:simpleType>
                    </xsd:element>
                    <xsd:element name="Unifier">
                        <xsd:simpleType>
                            <xsd:restriction base="xsd:string">
                                <xsd:maxLength value="2" />
                                <xsd:minLength value="0" />
                            </xsd:restriction>
                        </xsd:simpleType>
                    </xsd:element>
                </xsd:sequence>
            </xsd:complexType>
        </xsd:element>
    </xsd:sequence>
    <xsd:attribute name="FeedbackType" type="FeedbackType" use="optional"/>
    <xsd:attribute name="FeedbackEmail" type="xsd:string" use="optional"/>
</xsd:complexType>
</xsd:element>
<xsd:simpleType name="FeedbackType">
<xsd:annotation>
    <xsd:documentation>The feedback type for this file</xsd:documentation>
</xsd:annotation>
<xsd:restriction base="xsd:string">
    <xsd:enumeration value="FTP" />
    <xsd:enumeration value="EML" />
    <xsd:enumeration value="DEF" />
</xsd:restriction>
</xsd:simpleType>
</xsd:schema>

I have done the following things to create the XML file :

• made a class with xsd.exe
• I added the class to my project

• wrote the following function :

                  var data = new KilometerUploadKilometerRegistration 
              {
              ChassisNumber = huidigefactuur.Wagen.Chassisnummer,
              KilometerStatus = huidigefactuur.KMStand.ToString(),
              TypeOfData = "120",
  
              };
              var serializer = new XmlSerializer(typeof(KilometerUploadKilometerRegistration));
              using (var stream = new StreamWriter("C:\\test.xml"))
                  serializer.Serialize(stream, data);
  

It's working to create the XML file but I need to start at KilometerUpload node and than the KilometerRegistration node how do I do this?

This is the output i get with the code I used above :

<?xml version="1.0" encoding="UTF-8"?>

-<KilometerUploadKilometerRegistration xmlns:xsd="http://www.w3.org/2001/XMLSchema" xmlns:xsi="http://www.w3.org/2001/XMLSchema-instance">

<ChassisNumber>WVWZZZ3CZ7E201402</ChassisNumber>

<KilometerStatus>78000</KilometerStatus>

<TypeOfData>120</TypeOfData>

</KilometerUploadKilometerRegistration>

Thanks !

Solution 1

I have found the answer :

• I did not need to change my class generated by the xsd.exe

This is the code I ended with, it works perfectly now :

                foreach (Factuur huidigeFactuur2 in e.SelectedObjects)
            {
                XmlSerializer serializer2 = new XmlSerializer(typeof(KilometerUpload));
                TextWriter writer = new StreamWriter(@"C:\test2.xml");

                string chassisnummer = huidigeFactuur2.Wagen.Chassisnummer;
                string kilometerstatus = huidigeFactuur2.KMStand.ToString();

                KilometerUpload item = new KilometerUpload
                {
                    KilometerRegistration = new KilometerUploadKilometerRegistration[] { new KilometerUploadKilometerRegistration{ ChassisNumber = chassisnummer , TypeOfData = "120", KilometerStatus = kilometerstatus} },
                };

                serializer2.Serialize(writer, item);

Solution 2

your serialiser is at KilometerUpdateKilometerRegistration have you tried to set that at

var serializer = new XmlSerializer(typeof(kilometerUpload));

Comments

[Vandoorn Kevin]

Isn't there a shorter way using the XML serializatin? I allready generated an xml file with this short piece of code but I need different nodes

[Vandoorn Kevin]

I updated my question with the output my code now generates. As you can see my starting node is the KilometerUpdateKilometerRegistration this is not what I want my first node needs to be kilometerUpload and the second node is KilometerRegistration

[Vandoorn Kevin]

I haven't tried this yet. Can the serializer be different from the var data?

[Vandoorn Kevin]

I have tried to set the serializer at Kilometerupload but when i run it I get this error : "There was an error generating the XML document"

[Vandoorn Kevin]

I think I am really close , I only need 1 more node to the XML file and it's completed. But I just dont know how to split the KilometerUpdateKilometerRegistration node into 2.

[hschne]

I am not sure I understand. Do you want the KilometerUpdateKilometerRegistration do be present two times? Like with different data? Or do you mean a subnode is missing (e.g. ObservationDate)? Are you using the XmlSerializer solution you posted above?

[Vandoorn Kevin]

Yes I am using the XMLSerializer I stated above. The problem is now i have 1 node : KilometerUpdateKilometerRegistration . I need 2 nodes first KilometerUpdate than Kilometerregistration like in my XSD file.

[hschne]

Added sample code. Is this helpful? Btw, its "then" not "than", but lots german speaking people make that mistake ;) Mahlzeit!

[Vandoorn Kevin]

Thanks for the example ! I know if my XSD changes I will have to change the class, but this XSD file hasn't changed in years. I noticed that you initialise the properties inside a class but I'm trying to generate the XML file through a method that is not in that class. The data that fills the XML file comes from a different class that's why i use a different method

[hschne]

Glad to help. The solution i provided was a draft, so feel free to change it to fit your needs. I'd appreciate it if you would accept my answer (if it did help you solve your problem!)

[Vandoorn Kevin]

To use this solution I have to change my class? This class was generated by the xsd.exe tool that VS delivers. Can't I do this without changing the class?

[hschne]

You dont need to change your class. The only problem is, that Xsd.exe does not generate a class for the simple type KilometerUpload. You only need to add this as a class if you want it to be added to your xml. Since you mentioned the xsd doesnt actually change that shouldnt be a problem. To avoid a comment discussion i suggest you play around with xml serializer to get a feel for what gets mapped and how. I'm afraid i cannot help you any further. Good luck!

[Vandoorn Kevin]

Oke thanks for the help !! I understand it way better now ! I have accepted your answer, thanks again !

[Vandoorn Kevin]

I noticed something about your class. the class begins with the node XMLItem, mine begins with KilometerUpload so I don't need to add the class it's allready there but as the XMLItem you implemented so this is not quite the solution I was looking for. Could you help me a bit more?