Chapter 7. Working with XML

7. Working with XML

We looked at a variety of topics relating to data and databases in Chapters 3, 4, and 5, but these aren't the only sources of data in modern applications. XML has increasingly become an important data format, not only for the storage of data, but also for the transfer of data. It is text-based, easily readable by both humans and machines, and provides a way for data to be validated. Because of this, XML has become the de facto standard in Web Services and the basis for real standards that define Web Service interoperability.

In this chapter, we're going to look at XML and its use within ASP.NET pages. We will not be covering the details of working with and creating XML documents using some of the explicit XML classes, because there are too many of them to cover here, but we'll provide introductions to the classes you'll find most useful. We'll also provide references to other material should you need to explore them in more detail.

In particular, we'll be looking at:

• Using Visual Studio to work with XML

• How to use data source controls to bind to XML data

• How to transform XML from one form into another

• How to update XML data

• How to deal with XML data stored in SQL Server 2005

In general, working with XML in ASP.NET is simple, but there are places where you need to consider how the XML is structured and how you are going to use it. Let's start with a look at how Visual Studio 2005 supports XML for the developer.