Save DataGridView to XML

Question

Hello All
This issue has got to do with saving and retrieving data from xml into DataGridViews and vice versa
My xml file would look like this

<?xml version="1.0" encoding="utf8" ?>
<TestDescription xmlns:xsi="http://www.w3.org/2001/XMLSchemainstance" xmlns:xsd="http://www.w3.org/2001/XMLSchema" DeviceName="Three phase meter1" DeviceType="DeltaPlus1" DescriptionId="79AB314238CD423dA0CB4D49D3E75F13" Status="NotStarted" Version="1.0" TimeStamp="20021010T02:00:00+05:30" xmlns="urn:DeviceTestDescription">
<CommunicationDescription>
<PhysicalMedia>RS232</PhysicalMedia>
<CommunicationProtocol>Modbus</CommunicationProtocol>
<DeviceAddress>1</DeviceAddress>
<CommunicationPort>1</CommunicationPort>
<BaudRate>4800</BaudRate>
<HandShake>XON</HandShake>
</CommunicationDescription>
<TestSuite>
<TestGroup ID="1001" Description="Group1" ErrorCondition="Skip">
<TestCase ID="1001" Description="CT">
<TestStep Command="SetCT" ID="" Description="Set CT">
<Parameters>
<Parameter Name="setCTRatio" Value="8232" Direction="Write" />
</Parameters>
</TestStep>
<TestStep Command="ReadCT" ID="" Description="Get CT">
<Parameters>
<Parameter Name="getCTRatio" Direction="Read" />
</Parameters>
</TestStep>
<ValidationCriteria>if setCTRatio == getCTRatio testResult.valid = true else testResult.valid = false end</ValidationCriteria>
<ValidationError />
</TestCase>
</TestGroup>
</TestSuite>
<Log>Test Executed by : User1 Test Type : FTTPOC Remarks : DEMO version. Usage permitted for demonstration purposes only.</Log>
</TestDescription>

As you see above there are sections for Descriptions , CommunicationDescription, TestSteps and TestParamters
For each of the above sections i have a separate data grid view and a separate dataset (ds , ds1, ds2, ds3) in my app. I am able to populate the data grid views properly but i am unable to save the modified datagridview into xml . How should i do this ? And since the data is spread over many data grid views , this is more confusing coz i have many data sets each pertaining to one datagridview.
I made a few changes to the "communicationDescription" and used "ds1.AcceptChanges() ". It did not save . Using WriteXML () did save but the file got completely erased . Check my code .. Dont think it is any where close to correct

if (ds1.HasChanges() || ds2.HasChanges() || ds3.HasChanges() || ds.HasChanges())
{
DescriptionMode mode = (DescriptionMode)Enum.Parse(typeof(DescriptionMode), CurrentNavigation);
string[] files = Directory.GetFiles("D:\\TFS\\Code Snippets\\TestController\\TestController\\bin\\Debug\\" + mode.ToString(), "*.xml");
String file = files[overviewClickedRowIndex];
ds1.WriteXml(file);
ds2.WriteXml(file);
ds3.WriteXml(file);
ds.WriteXml(file);
}

Any help will be greatly appreciated. Thanks! Please respond asap..
AVink

anuradha shiv · Answer

Hi niki My code is attached . The EditableGridCtrlForTestSteps and EditableGridViewCtrlForTestParameters are the controls in question. The PopulateGrid() function is where i populate the control . Request u to look into two things : 1. Why i am unable to save the EditableGridCtrlForTestSteps data properly 2. LINQ query to get parameters for a particular test step. Thanks for the continued help Also i would like to ask of u to look into my other problem which would be an issue with a LINQ

Nilanka Dharmadasa · Answer

Hi Anuradha I cannot exactly tell the reason from what you have posted. Can you upload your code? Then I can have a look.

anuradha shiv · Answer

hi niki A neat sample it was . Helpful no doubt But there is a small issue. I am able to do exactly wat u said with my first two data grids. But when it comes to the last two  it saves the value i choose  but the file is modified in other parts (Encoding information is modified and some other xml blocks are misplaced)  and the file cant be opened in the app again . How do i overcome this problem  i want to be able to modify only and only the data table i m intending to modify  not the other lines .. As i mentioned i display this data table in the second page of my tabbed control. The ones that i access from the first page work fine . Please help .. I have attached the files before and after the save operation for ur understanding Thanks for the repeated help

Nilanka Dharmadasa · Answer

Hi Anuradha You can use a single dataset for all the grid views. Dataset may have multiple datatable which is bound to each datagridview. And you write the whole dataset even if one datagrid is modified. Check my sample project. BTW you should use ReadXml and WRiteXMl methods. Not schema thing. If you find my answer helpful please tick ' Do you like this answer' checkbox.

anuradha shiv · Answer

Hi Kirtan ! I did not get it done with this ... I think the problem lies in the data of a single file being distributed over many panes separately . So may be wat i am looking for it partial update / part by part update of the xml file Rather i would like to restate my problem statement My problem statement would be this : I have a Custom Control which is a tabbed panel. I have an XML doc as my backend to my application The XML doc has different sections say Description Communication Steps and Parameters Each of these sections i display in 4 different datagridviews on 4 different tabs of the tabbed panel. Hence for each of these sections i have a separate data set -which would be ds1 ds2 ds3 and ds4 respectively; I am able to populate all the panes properly with doin a ReadXML (filename) My issue is that i am not able to save sections of the file when i update the respective panes. Only the first pane updates without issues  the rest of them erase my entire xml file when i perform a save .. How should i selectively update the file ? and Since the data of a single file is distributed over many panels  i want to be able to use save button to selectively save the modifications on the currently active pane. :-) How should i do this ? I read the article Reading and Writing XML in C# . But still answers eludes me.

Kirtan Patel · Answer

If you want to Store Dataset in XML File and Want to Retrieve it back also then Use ds. /span>WriteXmlSchema(Filename.xml); method instead of WriteXML() and For retriving DataFrom that Written XML use code like below DataTable dt = new DataTable(); dt.ReadXmlSchema( Filename.xml ); DataGridView1.DataSource = dt;