Use XML data as variable name

Question

I am trying to modify a value in a text file template with a value from a database table without hard coding the relationship between the template field and the database field. I want to use an XML file to hold the names of the placeholders and database field names.

Placeholders look like: [somefieldname]
database fields look like: "databasefieldname"

XML looks like:

<placeholder>[somefieldname]</placeholder>
<dbfieldname>databasefieldname</dbfieldname>

Template looks like:

a,b,d,[somefieldname],y,n,1,2, etc...

Is this a crazy thought or is it actually feasible?

Carl Cioffi · Answer

In trying to show you an example of what I am trying to do I solved the problem which was right in front of me but I couldn't see the forest from the trees. I think I was just putting way too much thought into it. string placeHolder = [State]; string fieldName = cState; string txtValue = YN[State]N; txtValue = txtValue.Replace(placeHolder row[fieldName].ToString()); Where row is the datatable row with the replacement data.

Sunny Sharma · Answer

Hi Carl Got your point. Still I've a little to clear related to your text file. Is it like- a single value from database for every matching placeholder in file or like a single database value for a single placeholder. I mean do we have only a single line having the placeholder like: abd[somefieldname]yn12 etc... or it could be multiple like: abd[somefieldname]yn12 etc... abd[somefieldname]yn12 etc... abd[somefieldname]yn12 etc... abd[somefieldname]yn12 etc... OR alternatively you just show me your current code and I'll give you the solution. Thanks.

Carl Cioffi · Answer

There is data in a database table that needs to populate specific data in a comma delimited file. The data items are identified as placeholders and are wrapped in []. The placeholders are currently hard coded into an application that reads the comma delimited file then replaces the placeholders with the data from the database table. My plan is to move the list of placeholders and the database table fields that replace them into an XML file so when new placeholders are added/removed the code doesn't have to be opened again. We can just modify the XML and go. 91YN[taxrate1]YN etc... database table field cTaxRate1 replaces [taxrate1] when program executes. XML data would have [taxrate1] cTaxRate1 This would eliminate future code changes when the comma delimited configuration file becomes: [taxflag]1YN[taxrate1]YN etc...

Sunny Sharma · Answer

looks pretty feasible but I'm not clear with the idea completely please explain on that.