Confusion over Static class and Static method!

[Anup Daware]

Hi Group,
I have a little confusion over the use of static class in C#.

I have a static method in my static class. This method reads an xml
and returns a collection of objects.
This collection of objects can be different for different users.
This method uses some non-static variables which are local to this
method.

Following is my static class:
public static class ResponseXmlParser
{
public static Hashtable GetProductInfoList()
{
XmlTextReader xmlTextReader;
bool isScheduleElement = false;
bool isResultItem = false;
ProductInfo productInfo= new ProductInfo();
Hashtable productInfoList = new Hashtable();
try
{
//Create an instance of the XMLTextReader.
//MaterialSearchResponse.xml is different for different users.
xmlTextReader = new XmlTextReader("MaterialSearchResponse.xml");
// Process the XML file.
while (xmlTextReader.Read())
{
if(productInfo == null)
productInfo = new ProductInfo();
if (xmlTextReader.NodeType == XmlNodeType.Element)
{
if (xmlTextReader.Name == "CHECK_SCHEDULE_EX")
isScheduleElement = true;
if (xmlTextReader.Name.Equals("CHECK_ITEM_OUT"))
isResultItem = true;

if (!isScheduleElement && isResultItem)
{
switch (xmlTextReader.Name)
{
case "ITM_NUMBER":
if (!xmlTextReader.IsEmptyElement)
productInfo.ItemNumber =
xmlTextReader.ReadElementContentAsInt();
break;
...
...
..
case "REQ_QTY":
if (!xmlTextReader.IsEmptyElement)
productInfo.RequestedQuantity =
xmlTextReader.ReadElementContentAsInt();
if (productInfo != null)
productInfoList.Add(productInfo.IPC, productInfo);
productInfo = null;
break;
}
}
}
}//END OF WHILE
}
catch (XmlException ex){}
catch (Exception ex){}
finally
{
if (xmlTextReader!= null)
xmlTextReader.Close();
}
return productInfoList;
}
}

My doubts are:
1. Does a non-static local variable of static methods works fine in
multi-user environment (Web Application) where method is expected to
return different results?
2. Is there any other performance a benefit using the static methods
except the non-requirement of creation of object of class in which
method resides?

Thanks,
Anup Daware

[Mattias Sjögren]

>1. Does a non-static local variable of static methods works fine in
multi-user environment (Web Application) where method is expected to
return different results?

Yes.

>2. Is there any other performance a benefit using the static methods
except the non-requirement of creation of object of class in which
method resides?

When chosing between static and instance member, performance should
generally not be the deciding factor. Focus on good design.
Mattias

--
Mattias Sjögren [C# MVP] mattias @ mvps.org
http://www.msjogren.net/dotnet/ | http://www.dotnetinterop.com
Please reply only to the newsgroup.

[Anup Daware]

Thanks Mattias, it helped :)