Complex app settings in 2.0

[Ivan Berg]

Hey everyone, hopefully this will have a simple answer. Using VS2005/.NET
2.0 Application settings.

I have simple settings working fine, but I am trying to store more complex
types now.

For example a collection of city/state/country's

e.g.

los angeles, california, usa
boston, massachusets, usa
......

I would like store it in a xml format rather than CSV

i.e. in collection, get cities.city, cities.state, cities.country or similar

Is this easy or possible to do with the scope of 2.0 App settings? Which
type should be used (I tried xmldocument but it didn't like it)? Can data be
grabbed from an external xml file?

Or is this not a good idea in general for complex settings, and should the
be kept in a seperate xml file that's different that app settings?

Thanks, Ivan

[Kevin Spencer]

Hi Ivan,

This can be done by creating your own custom Configuration Sections and
corresponding Configuration classes. See:

http://www.developer.com/net/net/article.php/3617366
http://www.devx.com/dotnet/Article/27562/0/page/1
http://www.codeproject.com/dotnet/cu...ctionsNet2.asp

--
HTH,

Kevin Spencer
Microsoft MVP
Professional Chicken Salad Alchemist

What You Seek Is What You Get.
"Ivan Berg" <iv******@avaya.comwrote in message
news:e2*************@TK2MSFTNGP05.phx.gbl...

Hey everyone, hopefully this will have a simple answer. Using VS2005/.NET
2.0 Application settings.

I have simple settings working fine, but I am trying to store more complex
types now.

For example a collection of city/state/country's

e.g.

los angeles, california, usa
boston, massachusets, usa
.....

I would like store it in a xml format rather than CSV

i.e. in collection, get cities.city, cities.state, cities.country or
similar

Is this easy or possible to do with the scope of 2.0 App settings? Which
type should be used (I tried xmldocument but it didn't like it)? Can data
be grabbed from an external xml file?

Or is this not a good idea in general for complex settings, and should the
be kept in a seperate xml file that's different that app settings?

Thanks, Ivan

[Chris Mullins]

"Ivan Berg" <iv******@avaya.comwrote
[Complex Configuration Data]

I would like store it in a xml format rather than CSV

Beyond a certain point, the key/value pair structre of an application config
file just doesn't cut it any more.

Fortunatly writing a custom configuration section is breeze, and will do
exactly what you want. Check out:
http://msdn2.microsoft.com/en-us/library/2tw134k3.aspx

Everything there applies to all config files, not just Asp.Net configuration
files.

--
Chris Mullins
http://www.coversant.net/blogs/cmullins

[Ivan Berg]

Appreciate the replys Kevin and Chris. I will take a look at the links.

Ivan

"Ivan Berg" <iv******@avaya.comwrote in message
news:e2*************@TK2MSFTNGP05.phx.gbl...

Hey everyone, hopefully this will have a simple answer. Using VS2005/.NET
2.0 Application settings.

I have simple settings working fine, but I am trying to store more complex
types now.

For example a collection of city/state/country's

e.g.

los angeles, california, usa
boston, massachusets, usa
.....

I would like store it in a xml format rather than CSV

i.e. in collection, get cities.city, cities.state, cities.country or
similar

Is this easy or possible to do with the scope of 2.0 App settings? Which
type should be used (I tried xmldocument but it didn't like it)? Can data
be grabbed from an external xml file?

Or is this not a good idea in general for complex settings, and should the
be kept in a seperate xml file that's different that app settings?

Thanks, Ivan