Iterating through nested XML nodes

Question

I've read related questions on this but I feel I'm not grokking it. If I have an XML document with many nodes and subsequent child nodes, how do I loop through the document if I don't know how deep the child nodes go?

Here is some horrible code to demo what I mean:

foreach (var section in xml.Sections.Keys)
{
    cont.ContentControls.Add(new Separator(xml.Sections[section].Name));
    foreach (var variable in xml.Sections[section].Variables)
    {
        TraverseVars(cont, xml.Sections[section].Name, variable.Value.Name, variable.Value.Title, variable.Value.Default1, variable.Value.Default2, variable.Value.Default3, variable.Value.DesignerType);
        i++;
    }
    if (xml.Sections[section].Sections.Count > 0)
    {
        foreach (var section2 in xml.Sections[section].Sections.Keys)
        {
            cont.ContentControls.Add(new Separator(xml.Sections[section].Sections[section2].Name));
            foreach (var variable2 in xml.Sections[section].Sections[section2].Variables)
            {
                TraverseVars(cont, xml.Sections[section].Name, variable2.Value.Name, variable2.Value.Title, variable2.Value.Default1, 
                            variable2.Value.Default2, variable2.Value.Default3, variable2.Value.DesignerType);
                i++;
            }
        }
    }
}

Here I've only catered for when there is one nested level ("if......Count > 0"). I know there is a better way to cater for nested levels but I can't see it.

If you are looking to select a particular node no matter the level it's at you can use a select with "//nodename" which grabs all nodes with that name. — Mikael Svenson
– Mikael Svenson, Commented Feb 21, 2011 at 12:33
Check following link on MSDN Forums; Iterate through all nodes in an XML document social.msdn.microsoft.com/Forums/en-US/xmlandnetfx/thread/… — ukhardy
– ukhardy, Commented Feb 21, 2011 at 12:34

Bhavik Goyal · Accepted Answer · 2011-02-21 12:30:38Z

3

For this you have to create one recursive function, that will call it self untill the nested xml loop are not over ...

here is an example...

PLease fix if any mistake is ther...

public void xmlsection(XmlSection Section)
{
    cont.ContentControls.Add(new Separator(xml.Sections[section].Name));
    foreach (var variable in xml.Sections[section].Variables)
    {
        TraverseVars(cont, xml.Sections[section].Name, variable.Value.Name, variable.Value.Title, variable.Value.Default1, variable.Value.Default2, variable.Value.Default3, variable.Value.DesignerType);
        i++;
    }
    if (xml.Sections[section].Sections.Count > 0)
    {
        foreach (var section2 in xml.Sections[section].Sections.Keys)
        {
xmlsection(section2);
        }
    }

}

answered Feb 21, 2011 at 12:30

Bhavik Goyal

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2 Comments

Steven Jeuris Over a year ago

The i++ won't work anymore probably, but I'm sure the OP will figure out a way to resolve that issue. ;p

Bhavik Goyal Over a year ago

@steven yes you are right i have not just written the whole code. I have just shown the way to do recursive function.

Steven Jeuris · Accepted Answer · 2011-02-21 12:41:30Z

3

What you are looking for is either recursion, or a while loop where you reassign a variable which you use inside your loop constantly.

Using recursion is probably easiest, take a look at Bhavik Goyal answer, it seems to be your solution.

edited Feb 21, 2011 at 12:41

answered Feb 21, 2011 at 12:27

Steven Jeuris

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