Xml Versioning Tool

[Paul]

I've been tasked by my boss to write a tool that will update an xml (soap)
file such that when the structure of the object which we're persisting to
the soap file changes, my tool will apply the appropriate updates to bring
the soap file up to the version of the code before the soap file is
de-serialized.

To do this, I'd like to implement a 'change set' approach where I get a
version number which I save as part of the soap file and compare it to code
version number (which I get in from app.config) and apply the appropriate
'change set' files to modify the soap file and bring it up the version of
the code.

The trick seems to be how to identify what information to capture and then
how to apply to make the change.

For example, if there is a property defined in some object that is not part
of the soap file's version of the object I'd like to save the information
necessary to add the appropriate XmlNode. Then, right before the file is
de-serialized, I'd like to retrieve this information and use it to add the
appropriate XmlNode.

1st Question
Are there tools that already do this?

2nd Question
Can someone point me to resources that could provide this information?

3rd Question
Am I barking up the wrong tree to get this done?

My current stumbling block is when this property holds an enum. I can
create an XmlElement with the appropriate name but there are 3 attributes
that I need to add and I see no easy way to add them.

[Kevin Yu [MSFT]]

Hi Paul,

To me, your resolution is fine. But you have to make sure the difference
between all versions of the xml file. Currently, I don't know any tools
that can do this. Let wait and see if any community member can shed some
light on this issue.

Kevin Yu
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