Store/Retrieve data with XML - keeping it simple

[Kenny ODell]

I am struggling a bit with XML, even as I wade through endless help files and
several books. I thought it would be useful to toss my particular needs to
the group to see what you think is the best approach.

I have a form that is able to read/write from an embedded device with one of
several serial protocols. Through this interchange, I can read or write lots
of different settings in the target. What I want to do now is save the
settings to a file and back again. Here is what the data looks like that I
want to store to a file:

1. Device software info (several strings, "name", "version", "software part
nuber"
2. Configuration data (all binary data, no string) This C structure
contains 8 items, floats, 32-bit signed longs, and 8-bit chars. (Remember,
the target is a "C" guy)
3. Setting data (like #2 above, has lots of values)
4. Digital compensation settings for temperature adjustments (more floats,
5 of them)
5. Linearity compensation settings
....

So, there are lots of settings for each target device. Some of the settings
are determined at design time, some are unique to particular circuit board
configurations, and some are unique to each particular device.

I want to simple be able to write the settings to a file, and read them
back. One day, we may want to hook to a database (in the factory) but I will
likely leave that to the factory engineers to do that. Right now, the entire
app works except for this file reading/writing. Once again, I think I know
what I want to do and it seems simple, but I don't know how to get started.

One final thing: I have created a Schema and am squirting the data to a
file, but I'm not able to figure out how to read it back again and then tell
what I have so I know which text box to stick it into.

Thanks for your patience in reading this.

[eSapient]

I run into this situation frequently. I find it very simple and elegant to
use xml serialization:

1. Use the XSD tool to convert your schema into C# classes:
http://msdn.microsoft.com/library/de...nitiontool.asp
2. Use the generated classes to write read/write code:
http://msdn.microsoft.com/library/de...lizetopic2.asp

Hope this helps.

"Kenny ODell" <Ke********@discussions.microsoft.com> wrote in message
news:E5**********************************@microsof t.com...

I am struggling a bit with XML, even as I wade through endless help files
and
several books. I thought it would be useful to toss my particular needs
to
the group to see what you think is the best approach.

I have a form that is able to read/write from an embedded device with one
of
several serial protocols. Through this interchange, I can read or write
lots
of different settings in the target. What I want to do now is save the
settings to a file and back again. Here is what the data looks like
that I
want to store to a file:

1. Device software info (several strings, "name", "version", "software
part
nuber"
2. Configuration data (all binary data, no string) This C structure
contains 8 items, floats, 32-bit signed longs, and 8-bit chars.
(Remember,
the target is a "C" guy)
3. Setting data (like #2 above, has lots of values)
4. Digital compensation settings for temperature adjustments (more
floats,
5 of them)
5. Linearity compensation settings
...

So, there are lots of settings for each target device. Some of the
settings
are determined at design time, some are unique to particular circuit board
configurations, and some are unique to each particular device.

I want to simple be able to write the settings to a file, and read them
back. One day, we may want to hook to a database (in the factory) but I
will
likely leave that to the factory engineers to do that. Right now, the
entire
app works except for this file reading/writing. Once again, I think I
know
what I want to do and it seems simple, but I don't know how to get
started.

One final thing: I have created a Schema and am squirting the data to a
file, but I'm not able to figure out how to read it back again and then
tell
what I have so I know which text box to stick it into.

Thanks for your patience in reading this.