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ASP.NET Web Forms - XML Files


We can bind an XML file to a list control.


An XML File

Here is an XML file named "countries.xml":

<?xml version="1.0" encoding="ISO-8859-1"?>

<countries>

<country>
  <text>Norway</text>
  <value>N</value>
</country>

<country>
  <text>Sweden</text>
  <value>S</value>
</country>

<country>
  <text>France</text>
  <value>F</value>
</country>

<country>
  <text>Italy</text>
  <value>I</value>
</country>

</countries>

Take a look at the XML file: countries.xml


Bind a DataSet to a List Control

First, import the "System.Data" namespace. We need this namespace to work with DataSet objects. Include the following directive at the top of an .aspx page:

<%@ Import Namespace="System.Data" %>

Next, create a DataSet for the XML file and load the XML file into the DataSet when the page is first loaded:

<script runat="server">
sub Page_Load
if Not Page.IsPostBack then
  dim mycountries=New DataSet
  mycountries.ReadXml(MapPath("countries.xml"))
end if
end sub

To bind the DataSet to a RadioButtonList control, first create a RadioButtonList control (without any asp:ListItem elements) in an .aspx page:

<html>
<body>

<form runat="server">
<asp:RadioButtonList id="rb" runat="server" AutoPostBack="True" />
</form>

</body>
</html>

Then add the script that builds the XML DataSet:

<%@ Import Namespace="System.Data" %>

<script runat="server">
sub Page_Load
if Not Page.IsPostBack then
  dim mycountries=New DataSet
  mycountries.ReadXml(MapPath("countries.xml"))
  rb.DataSource=mycountries
  rb.DataValueField="value"
  rb.DataTextField="text"
  rb.DataBind()
end if
end sub
</script>

<html>
<body>

<form runat="server">
<asp:RadioButtonList id="rb" runat="server"
AutoPostBack="True" onSelectedIndexChanged="displayMessage" />
</form>

</body>
</html>

Then we add a sub routine to be executed when the user clicks on an item in the RadioButtonList control. When a radio button is clicked, a text will appear in a label:

Example

<%@ Import Namespace="System.Data" %>

<script runat="server">
sub Page_Load
if Not Page.IsPostBack then
  dim mycountries=New DataSet
  mycountries.ReadXml(MapPath("countries.xml"))
  rb.DataSource=mycountries
  rb.DataValueField="value"
  rb.DataTextField="text"
  rb.DataBind()
end if
end sub

sub displayMessage(s as Object,e As EventArgs)
lbl1.text="Your favorite country is: " & rb.SelectedItem.Text
end sub
</script>

<html>
<body>

<form runat="server">
<asp:RadioButtonList id="rb" runat="server"
AutoPostBack="True" onSelectedIndexChanged="displayMessage" />
<p><asp:label id="lbl1" runat="server" /></p>
</form>

</body>
</html>
Show example »