Winforms formatting a nested XML to view as a report

Question

Hi all.
We have XML files sent to us from several customers. The file structure is the same for all of them.
I wish to write a standalone c# program so users can open and view these files. However, I have never played with XML before and the files are pretty big and nested.
Can someone give me a clue with a tutorial or idea which is the best way to go about this?

I have the mdiparent done and I beleive the file>open>Stream is ready and correct. I don't mind if I have to use Crystal reports or even a datagrid. It may be that I need to use a schema file but I have found it all pretty confusing so far (the nested bit). From what I have tried so far I get the error

"The table (Body) cannot be the child table to itself in nested relations."

Can anyone give me a clue?

-

using (myStream)
{
//do stuff here

}

Cheers
Chris

ali tuncer · Answer

I received the same error when I tried to put in dataset.. But a small change in xml file fixed it I am attaching the file.. Here is the change : change this name don't make it body i put --> ........ change closing tag as well to -->

ali tuncer · Answer

You could generate classes from XML file: http://stackoverflow.com/questions/4203540/generate-c-sharp-class-from-xml After that you could read class data from XML file using XmlSerializer: https://msdn.microsoft.com/en-us/library/ykeyhw7z(v=vs.90).aspx You could also try other ways to read XML like XmlDocument XmlTextReader linq to XML

Chris Johnson · Answer

I can't believe it was that simple. THANK YOU Ali ;-)

Chris Johnson · Answer

Hi Ali I get the error when trying to format the incoming xml using standard code I found on the web. If it's simple flat xml I can format that fine. I think the best thing for me to do is give an example of the file. (Attached) As you can see the nesting is pretty complex the formatting I have tested online and the website says it's good.

ali tuncer · Answer

When do you get it? Is it when you generate class? Are you sure xml file is valid/properly formatted? which .net version are you using? Here is a similar thread like yours : http://stackoverflow.com/questions/675640/c-the-table-sometable-cannot-be-the-child-table-to-itself-in-nested-relatio But when I tested his xml I didn't receive any error I guess it could be related to .net version I have 4.5 installed..

Chris Johnson · Answer

Thank you Ali. Unfortunately I get the same error. Error: There was an error processing 'chris.xml'. - The table (Body) cannot be the child table to itself in nested relations.

Chris Johnson · Answer

Hi Nishant that is exactly what I am doing however that is when the error occurs. The table (Body) cannot be the child table to itself in nested relations.

Nishant Mittal · Answer

Hi I dont know much about crystal reports but Y dont u conver the XML in Datatable and play it around. DataSet ds = new DataSet (); ds . ReadXml ( fileNamePath );