multiple same section in app.config

[Droopy]

Hi,

I would like to configure some device connections through app.config.
I created the following config file but it fails because I have the same
section more than once :

<?xml version="1.0" encoding="utf-8" ?>
<configuration>
<configSections>
<sectionGroup name="Connections">
<section name="Connection"
type="System.Configuration.NameValueSectionHandler" />
</sectionGroup>
</configSections>
<Connections>
<Connection>
<add key="ComPort" value="COM2" />
<add key="Name" value="Connection 1" />
<add key="ID" value="1" />
</Connection>
<Connection>
<add key="ComPort" value="COM4" />
<add key="Name" value="Connection 2" />
<add key="ID" value="2" />
</Connection>
</Connections>
</configuration>

I have 2 questions :

1) How should I modify this configuration file ?
2) Now that ConfigurationSettings.GetConfig is obsolete, is does not
seems clear for me how to use ConfigurationManager to read the config
file.

Thanks in advance,

Droopy.

 

[Sean Chambers]

Perhaps moving the ID into an attribute on <Connection>

I.E.:

 

[Nicholas Paldino [.NET/C# MVP]]

Droopy,

The reason this doesn't work is that you are trying to create something
of a heiarchical nature for data that is simply a set of pairs.

If you want to use the NameValueSectionHandler, then you need to do
something like this:

<Connections>
<add key="ComPort_1" value="COM2" />
<add key="Name_1" value="Connection 1" />
<add key="ComPort_2" value="COM4" />
<add key="Name_2" value="Connection 2" />
</Connections>

Then, you would have to parse the names to see how the values are
grouped together.

If you want to have a different kind of config setup, then you will have
to create your own custom handler.

Hope this helps.

 

[Droopy]

I already tried your solution.
I got an exception "Sections must only appear once per config file".

 

[Droopy]

That is a good idea but I don't really like it.
The parsing seems a bit too complicated.
I am going to try my own custom handler.

Thanks.

 

[Droopy]

My problem is that I tried to use the same section multiple times.
A custom section won't help I suppose ?

 

[Nicholas Paldino [.NET/C# MVP]]

Droopy,

Well, it will, but you have to have one root element that is not
repeated.

 

[Droopy]

Droopy,

Well, it will, but you have to have one root element that is not
repeated.

So I must miss something !

I tried with the example provided in MSDN :

<myCustomGroup>
<myCustomSection myAttrib1="Clowns">
<myChildSection
myChildAttrib1="Zippy"
myChildAttrib2="Michael Zawondy "/>
</myCustomSection>
</myCustomGroup>

It works of course.
When I try to add a 2nd element :

<myCustomGroup>
<myCustomSection myAttrib1="Clowns">
<myChildSection
myChildAttrib1="Zippy"
myChildAttrib2="Michael Zawondy "/>
</myCustomSection>
<myCustomSection myAttrib1="Clowns2">
<myChildSection
myChildAttrib1="Zippy"
myChildAttrib2="Michael Zawondy "/>
</myCustomSection>
</myCustomGroup>

I got the same exception = "Sections must only appear once per config
file".

 

[Droopy]

I succeeded in folowing MSDN example for
"ConfigurationCollectionAttribute" function with following app.config :

<?xml version="1.0" encoding="utf-8" ?>
<configuration>
<configSections>
<section name="VtrConnectionsSection"
type="VtrEngine.VtrConnectionsSection,
VtrEngine, Version=1.0.0.0,
Culture=neutral, PublicKeyToken=null" />
</configSections>
<VtrConnectionsSection>
<VtrConnections>
<Vtr ComPort="COM4" Name="DvcPro50 PTE" ID="1" />
<Vtr ComPort="COM2" Name="Vtr XT2 PTE" ID="2" />
</VtrConnections>
</VtrConnectionsSection>
</configuration>

Though I still have a little problem :
When the section <VtrConnections> contains no item, my custom
ConfigurationElement is still instantiated (as if a default is
instantiated).
In fact, when the ConfigurationElementCollection constructor is called,
it creates a ConfigurationElement.

Is the MSDN example bugged ?

Your help is very appreciated.
I didn't expected so much difficulties to read a few config lines !