Beginning XML with C# 7 : XML Processing and Data Access for C# Developers

Master the basics of XML as well as the namespaces and objects you need to know in order to work efficiently with XML. You’ll learn extensive support for XML in everything from data access to configuration, from raw parsing to code documentation. You will see clear, practical examples that illustrate best practices in implementing XML APIs and services as part of your C#-based Windows 10 applications. Beginning XML with C# 7 is completely revised to cover the XML features of .NET Framework 4.7 using C# 7 programming language. In this update, you’ll discover the tight integration of XML with ADO.NET and LINQ as well as additional .NET support for today’s RESTful web services and Web API. Written by a Microsoft Most Valuable Professional and developer, this book demystifies everything to do with XML and C# 7. What You Will Learn:• Discover how XML works with the .NET Framework• Read, write, access, validate, and manipulate XML documents• Transform XML with XSLT• Use XML serialization and web services• Combine XML in ADO.NET and SQL Server• Create services using Windows Communication Foundation• Work with LINQ• Use XML with Web API and more Who This Book Is For :Those with experience in C# and .NET new to the nuances of using XML. Some XML experience is helpful. Contents About the Author About the Technical Reviewer Introduction Chapter 1: Introducing XML and the .NET Framework What Is XML? Benefits of XML XML Is an Industry Standard XML Is Self-Describing XML Is Extensible XML Can Be Processed Easily XML Can Be Used to Easily Exchange Data XML Can Be Used to Easily Share Data XML Can Be Used to Create Specialized Vocabularies XML-Driven Applications Rules of XML Grammar Markup Is Case Sensitive A Document Must Have One and Only One Root Element A Start Tag Must Have an End Tag Start and End Tags Must Be Properly Nested Attribute Values Must Be Enclosed in Quotes DTD and XML Schema Parsing XML Documents XSLT XPath The .NET Framework .NET Framework and XML Assemblies and Namespaces System.Xml Namespace System.Xml.Schema Namespace System.Xml.XPath Namespace System.Xml.Xsl Namespace System.Xml.Serialization Namespace System.Xml.Linq Namespace The Classic XML Parsing Model of the .NET Framework The LINQ-Based Parsing Model of the .NET Framework .NET Configuration Files ADO.NET ASP.NET Web Forms Server Controls XML Serialization Web Services, WCF Services, and Web API XML Documentation XAML Markup SQL Server XML Features Working with Visual Studio Creating Windows Forms Applications Creating Class Libraries Summary Chapter 2: Manipulating XML Documents Using the Document Object Model Using the DOM Parser Knowing When to Use DOM A Sample XML Document Opening an Existing XML Document for Parsing Navigating Through an XML Document Looking for Specific Elements and Nodes Retrieving Specific Elements Using the GetElementsByTagName() Method Retrieving Specific Elements Using the GetElementById() Method Selecting Specific Nodes Using the SelectNodes() Method Selecting a Single Specific Node Using the SelectSingleNode() Method Modifying XML Documents Navigating Between Various Nodes Modifying Existing Content Deleting Existing Content Adding New Content Using Helper Methods Dealing with Whitespace Dealing with Namespaces Understanding Events of the XmlDocument Class Summary Chapter 3: Reading and Writing XML Documents What Are XML Readers and Writers? When to Use Readers and Writers Reader Classes The XmlTextReader Class The XmlValidatingReader Class The XmlNodeReader Class Reading XML Documents Using XmlTextReader Opening XML Documents Reading Attributes, Elements, and Values Improving Performance by Using Name Tables Dealing with Namespaces Moving Between Elements The ReadSubTree() Method The ReadToDescendant() Method The ReadToFollowing() Method The ReadToNextSibling() Method The Skip() Method Moving Between Attributes Reading Content The ReadInnerXml() Method The ReadOuterXml() Method The ReadString() Method Writing XML Documents Using XmlTextWriter Exporting Columns As Elements Exporting Columns As Attributes Specifying Character Encoding Formatting the Output Including Namespace Support Dealing with Nontextual Data Serializing Data Deserializing Data Summary Chapter 4: Accessing XML Documents Using the XPath Data Model Overview of XPath Location Path Axis Node Tests Predicates Putting It All Together XPath Functions The XPath Data Model Creating XPathNavigator Navigating an XML Document Using XPathNavigator Selecting Nodes Selecting Single Nodes Selecting Children, Ancestors, and Descendants Compiling XPath Expressions Navigating Between Attributes Retrieving Inner and Outer XML Getting an XmlReader from XPathNavigator Getting an XmlWriter from XPathNavigator Editing XML Documents with the XPathNavigator Class Adding Nodes Modifying Nodes Deleting Nodes Saving Changes Summary Chapter 5: Validating XML Documents Providing Structure for XML Documents Document Type Definition (DTD) XML Data Reduced (XDR) Schema XML Schema Definition (XSD) Schema Creating Structure for an XML Document The Structure of Employees.xml Creating the DTD Creating the XML Schema XSD for Employees.xml Creating the XSD in Visual Studio Designer Creating the Schema from XML Document Using Visual Studio IDE Creating the Schema by Using the XML Schema Definition Tool Creating the Schema from an XML Document Creating the Schema from an Assembly Creating Schemas by Using the Schema Object Model (SOM) The Core SOM Classes Creating an XML Schema Using the SOM Creating the Schema Creating a Simple Type for Names Creating a Simple Type for Phone Numbers Creating a Simple Type for Notes Creating a Complex Type That Represents an Employee Creating a Top-Level Complex Type Creating the Root Element Compiling the Schema Saving the Schema Attaching the DTD and XML Schemas to XML Documents Inline DTDs External DTDs Inline XML Schema External XML Schema Adding Frequently Used Schemas to the Schema Cache Using XmlReader to Validate XML Documents Using XmlDocument to Validate XML Documents Using XPathNavigator to Validate XML Documents Specifying XML Schema via Code Summary Chapter 6: Transforming XML with XSLT Overview of XSLT Applying Templates Using Branching Using Branching Using and Transforming Elements and Attributes The XslCompiledTransform Class Performing Transformations Using XslCompiledTransform Passing Arguments to a Transformation Using Script Blocks in an XSLT Style Sheet Using Extension Objects Compiling XSLT Style Sheets Summary Chapter 7: XML in ADO.NET Overview of ADO.NET Architecture Connected Data Access Disconnected Data Access ADO.NET Data Providers SQL Server Data Provider OLEDB Data Provider ODBC Data Provider Oracle Data Provider The Assemblies and Namespaces Involved ADO.NET Classes Connection (SqlConnection and OleDbConnection) Command (SqlCommand and OleDbCommand) Parameter (SqlParameter and OleDbParameter) DataReader (SqlDataReader and OleDbDataReader) DataAdapter (SqlDataAdapter and OleDbDataAdapter) DataSet XML and Connected Data Access Using the ExecuteXmlReader() Method XML and Disconnected Data Access Understanding DataSet Understanding DataAdapter Working with DataSet and DataAdapter Filling a DataSet Accessing Data from DataSet Adding New Rows Updating an Existing Row Deleting a Row Using DataRow States Saving the Changes to the Database Saving DataSet Contents As XML Saving Only the Schema Extracting DataSet Contents As an XML String Reading XML Data into DataSet Using the Automatic Read Operation Reading DiffGrams Reading XML Fragments Ignoring Schema Information Inferring Schema Information Reading Schema Information Generating Menus Dynamically Based On an XML File Reading Only the Schema Information Creating a Typed DataSet Using Visual Studio to Create a Typed DataSet Using the xsd.exe Tool to Create a Typed DataSet Summary Chapter 8: XML Serialization Understanding the Flavors of Serialization Classes Involved in the XML Serialization Serializing and Deserializing Objects Using XmlSerializer Handling Events Raised During Deserialization Serializing and Deserializing Complex Types Serialization and Inheritance Customizing the Serialized XML Changing the XML Document Root Changing the Element Names Serializing Members As Attributes Ignoring Public Members in the Serialization Process Changing Array and Array Element Names Ignoring Null Objects in the Serialization Process Changing Enumeration Identifiers Serializing and Deserializing Objects Using DataContractSerializer Customizing the Serialized XML Serializing and Deserializing Objects Using SoapFormatter Customizing SOAP Serialization Summary Chapter 9: XML in Web Services What Are Web Services? Creating and Consuming Web Services Creating a Web Service Setting a Description for a Web Method Adding Web Methods for CRUD Functionality Creating a Proxy for a Web Service Creating a Form That Calls the Web Methods Understanding SOAP Using SOAP Headers Customizing the XML Serialization Understanding the WSDL Document The Messages The Type Definitions The Port Types The Binding The Service A Summary of WSDL Summary Chapter 10: XML in WCF and Web API Operations Based Services vs. Resource Based Services Understanding WCF Vocabulary Creating and Consuming a WCF Service Creating the Service Hosting the Service Consuming the Service Testing the Host and Client Hosting a WCF Service in IIS Understanding the Role of XML in WCF Services Using XmlSerializer Instead of DataContractSerializer Understanding REST Services Creating a REST Service Using WCF Creating a Client That Consumes the EmployeeManager REST Service Creating a REST Service Using Web API Creating a Client That Consumes the EmployeeManager Web API Service Using XmlSerializer Instead of DataContractSerializer Summary Chapter 11: XML in SQL Server Using XML Extensions to the SELECT Statement The FOR XML Clause The AUTO Mode The RAW Mode Returning the Schema of the XML The PATH Mode The EXPLICIT Mode Specifying the Root Element Name Using OPENXML Using SQLXML Features The SQLXML Managed Classes Executing SELECT Queries Executing Parameterized SELECT Queries Filling a DataSet Updating a DataSet by Using SqlXmlAdapter Applying XSLT Templates Writing Template Queries Updating Data with DiffGrams The XML Data Type Creating a Table with an XML Column Inserting, Modifying, and Deleting XML Data Methods of the XML Data Type Using the query() Method Using the value() Method Using the exist() Method XML Data Modification Language (XML DML) XQuery Support in the XML Data Type Summary Chapter 12: XML in .NET Framework Using XAML to Define the WPF User Interface Displaying XML Data in a WPF Application Using XML in ASP.NET XML and ASP.NET Server Control Markup Creating a Web Site Designing the Web Form Writing Code Running the Web Application The XML Data Source Control Applying Transformations Filtering Data by Using XPath Expressions Binding an XML Data Source to a Menu Control Working with Site Maps Using a SiteMapPath Control Using a SiteMapDataSource Control Using the XML Control Using the .NET Framework Configuration System Structure of the web.config File Web.config Inheritance Using Web.config for Common Configuration Tasks Storing and Retrieving Application Configuration Settings Storing and Retrieving Database Connection Strings Using Forms Authentication Configuring Session State Displaying Custom Error Pages Documenting Code with XML Comments Creating a Class Library Documenting the Summary and Remarks Adding Paragraphs Documenting Method Parameters and Return Values Specifying Scope and Permissions Specifying Links to Other Members Adding Lists Generating XML Documentation from Comments Using Sandcastle Help File Builder to Generate Help Files Summary Chapter 13: Working with LINQ to XML Overview of LINQ Working with LINQ Queries Grouping Data Using LINQ Sorting Data Using LINQ Filtering Data Using LINQ Shaping Data Using LINQ Classic XML Technologies vs. LINQ to XML Working with XML Fragments Visual Construction of XML Trees Ease in Namespace Handling Renaming XML Nodes Static Methods to Load XML Whitespace Handling XML Transformation When to Use LINQ to XML LINQ to XML Class Hierarchy Opening an Existing XML Document for Parsing Navigating Through an XML Tree Looking for Specific Elements and Attributes Retrieving Specific Elements Using the Descendants() Method Searching on the Basis of Attribute Values Modifying XML Data Loading the XML Document Navigating Between Various Nodes Adding New Content Modifying Existing Content Deleting Existing Content Saving the Modified XML Tree to a File Displaying Employee Details Events of the XElement Class Dealing with Whitespace Dealing with Namespaces Specifying Namespaces While Constructing Elements Validating XML Documents Transforming XML Trees Changing the Shape of an XML Tree Projecting a New Type Summary Appendix A: Creating a Custom XmlReader and XmlWriter Creating a Custom XmlReader Inheriting from XmlReader Creating the TableReader Class Declaring Class-Level Variables Initializing the Variables Retrieving the Total Number of Attributes Closing the Reader Reading Attributes Navigating Between the Attributes Advancing the Reader Checking Whether the Value Is Empty Reading Values Returning the Table or Column Name Returning Values Using the TableReader Class Creating a Custom XmlWriter Inheriting from XmlWriter Creating the RssWriter Class Coding Stream-Related Operations Defining Enumerations for RSS-Specific Tags Writing Elements Writing Attributes Writing Data Writing an XML Declaration Using the RssWriter Class Summary Appendix B: Resources W3C Web Site for XML Specifications W3C Web Site for XML Schema Specifications W3C Web Site for XPath-Related Information W3C Web Site for XSL-Related Information W3C Web Site for SOAP Specifications System.Xml Reference .NET/ASP.NET/WCF/Web API Wikipedia—XML Section Author’s Web Site on .NET and Web Development XML Notepad—XML Editor Sandcastle Help File Builder SQLXML Programming Index Master the basics of XML as well as the namespaces and objects you need to know in order to work efficiently with XML. You'll learn extensive support for XML in everything from data access to configuration, from raw parsing to code documentation. You will see clear, practical examples that illustrate best practices in implementing XML APIs and services as part of your C#-based Windows 10 applications. Beginning XML with C# updates Bipin Joshi's one-of-a-kind title to the new C# 7.0 programming language and .NET 4.7 Framework releases. In this update, youll discover the tight integration of XML with ADO.NET and LINQ as well as additional .NET support for today's RESTful web services and microservices. Written by a Microsoft Certified trainer and developer, this book demystifies everything to do with XML and C# 7.0. What You'll Learn Discover how XML works with the .NET Framework Read, write, access, validate, and manipulate XML documents Transform XML with XSLT Use XML serialization and web services Combine XML in ADO.NET and SQL Server Create services using Windows Communication Foundation Work with LINQ Use XML with C# in Azure and more Who This Book Is For Those with experience in C# and .NET new to the nuances of using XML. Some XML experience is helpful Beginning XML with C# 2008 focuses on XML and how it is used within .NET 3.5. As you'd expect of a modern application framework, .NET 3.5 has extensive support for XML in everything from data access to configuration, from raw parsing to code documentation. This book demystifies all of this. It explains the basics of XML as well as the namespaces and objects you need to know in order to work efficiently with XML. You will see clear, practical examples that illustrate best practices in action. With this book, you'll learn everything you need to know from the basics of reading and writing XML data to using the DOM, from LINQ and SQL Server integration to SOAP and web services. Annotation Master the basics of XML as well as the namespaces and objects you need to know in order to work efficiently with XML. You'll learn extensive support for XML in everything from data access to configuration, from raw parsing to code documentation. You'll see clear, practical examples that illustrate best practices in implementing XML APIs and services as part of your C#-based Windows 10 applications