How do I parse text from complex type xml in c# using XDocument?

Question

<?xml version="1.0" encoding="UTF-8"?>
<meta>
    <field type="xs-string" name="AssetId">TF00000002</field>
    <field type="xs-string" name="Title">TitleOfAsset</field>
</meta>

I have this XML loaded in to a XDocument using the function

XDocument doc = XDocument.Parse(xmlData)

However, I want to be able to retrieve the text fields "TF00000002" and "TitleOfAsset" ... How do I go about doing this?

templateMetaData.assetID = doc
    .Descendants()
    .Where(p => p.Name.LocalName == "AssetId")
    .ToString();

returns:

 System.Linq.Enumerable+WhereEnumerableIterator`1[System.Xml.Linq.XElement]

Can anyone shine a light on this?

Doesn't work. is not very precise... can you describe what exactly happens? — Steve B
– Steve B, Commented Jun 27, 2014 at 13:39
"Doesn't work" is far too vague a description. What happened? (Hint: Where returns a sequence, not a single value, and you're currently looking at the element name, not the name attribute). — Jon Skeet
– Jon Skeet, Commented Jun 27, 2014 at 13:39
Sorry, yes. It returns "System.Linq.Enumerable+WhereEnumerableIterator`1[System.Xml.Linq.XElement]" instead of the element. — James Brankin
– James Brankin, Commented Jun 27, 2014 at 13:40

Selman Genç · Accepted Answer · 2014-06-27 13:53:03Z

0

In your query, you are calling ToString on an IEnumerable<XElement> which will never give you the expected result, instead look for field elements under your Root and get their value:

var values = doc.Root
           .Elements("field")
           .Select(element => (string)element);

If you want to access your values using the name attribute you can use Dictionary:

var values = doc.Root
           .Elements("field")
           .ToDictionary(x => (string)x.Attribute("name"), x => (string)x);

Then you can access the value of AssetId:

var id = values["AssetId"];

edited Jun 27, 2014 at 13:53

answered Jun 27, 2014 at 13:39

Selman Genç

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7 Comments

gunr2171 Over a year ago

I think element => element.Value would make more sense. Just a suggestion.

James Brankin Over a year ago

This code just tells me that the sequence contains no elements whenever I change "field" to "AssetId" edit: just saw your edit... trying that now

Selman Genç Over a year ago

@user3780459 because AssetId is the value of your name attribute. it is not an XElement

James Brankin Over a year ago

OK so now I have this code instead var assetID = doc.Root.Elements("xs-string").ToDictionary(x => (string)x.Attribute("AssetId"), x => (string)x); and it also doesn't return the value of the AssetId. Am I doing something wrong still?

Selman Genç Over a year ago

are you kidding with me ? why did you write .Elements("xs-string") ? do you see anything like that in my answer ?

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