C# Linq to XML read multiple tags with attributes

Question

I am trying to read a XML file using Linq To XML but cannot seem to understand how to do it.

I have this XML file:

<?xml version="1.0" encoding="utf-8" ?>
<Thing>
    <Objects>
        <MyTag name="" num="2">
            <Date month="May" day="2" year="2006" />
        </MyTag>

        <MyTag name="" num="4">
            <Date month="May" day="22" year="2012" />
        </MyTag>

        <MyTag name="" num="2">
            <Date month="May" day="11" year="2034" />
        </MyTag>
    </Objects>
</Thing>

I started with this query:

// Load the xml
XDocument document = XDocument.Load(XML_PATH);

var query = from thing in document.Root.Descendants("Objects")
            select new
            {
                TagName = thing.Attribute("name").Value.ToString(),
                TagNum = thing.Attribute("num").Value.ToString(),

                // What do I write here to get the Date tag and attributes?
            };

How would I get the the Date tag and attributes? Not sure how to get the next node.

I tried to print out TagName and TagNum inside a foreach loop like this:

foreach(string value in query)
{
    Console.WriteLine(value.TagName + " " + value.TagNum); 
}

However, I am getting an error saying

CS0030  Cannot convert type '<anonymous type: string TagName, string TagNum>' to 'string'

use foreach (var value in query)

Fabio
– Fabio

2016-10-08 04:27:12 +00:00
Commented Oct 8, 2016 at 4:27 — Fabio
– Fabio, Commented Oct 8, 2016 at 4:27

Cory Nelson · Accepted Answer · 2016-10-08 04:20:28Z

2

To get the date, just use .Element() to get the child:

from thing in document.Root.Descendants("Objects")
let date = thing.Element("Date")
select new
{
    TagName = (string)thing.Attribute("name"),
    TagNum = (string)thing.Attribute("num"),

    DateMonth = (string)date?.Attribute("month"),
    DateDay = (string)date?.Attribute("day"),
    DateYear = (string)date?.Attribute("year"),
};

Your foreach statement is not compiling because you're asking for strings when the query collection is of the anonymous type returned by new{}. You'll want to use var instead of string:

foreach(var value in query)
{
    Console.WriteLine(value.TagName + " " + value.TagNum); 
}

answered Oct 8, 2016 at 4:20

Cory Nelson

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1 Comment

cress Over a year ago

Thanks for the explanation. Learned a lot from this.

Fabio · Accepted Answer · 2016-10-08 04:23:27Z

1

Use Element("elementName") method

var query = 
    document.Root
            .Descendants("Objects")
            .Select(obj => new
            {
                TagName = thing.Attribute("name").Value,
                TagNum = thing.Attribute("num").Value, 
                Year = thing.Element("Date").Attribute("year").Value,
                Month = thing.Element("Date").Attribute("month").Value,
                Day = thing.Element("Date").Attribute("day").Value  
            };

answered Oct 8, 2016 at 4:23

Fabio

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Comments

Sajeetharan · Accepted Answer · 2016-10-08 04:24:44Z

1

Change it like this, var type instead of string

 foreach (var value in query)
 {
    Console.WriteLine(value.TagName + " " + value.TagNum);
 }

edited Oct 8, 2016 at 4:24

answered Oct 8, 2016 at 4:17

Sajeetharan

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1 Comment

cress Over a year ago

Thank you. Thought everything from the query came as strings.

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