How to read XML file into List<>?

Question

I have a List<> which I wrote into an XML file. Now I am trying to read the same file and write it back to List<>. Is there a method to do that?

Answer 1

I think the easiest way is to use the XmlSerializer:

XmlSerializer serializer = new XmlSerializer(typeof(List<MyClass>));

using(FileStream stream = File.OpenWrite("filename"))
{
    List<MyClass> list = new List<MyClass>();
    serializer.Serialize(stream, list);
}

using(FileStream stream = File.OpenRead("filename"))
{
    List<MyClass> dezerializedList = (List<MyClass>)serializer.Deserialize(stream);
}

Answer 2

You can try this (using System.Xml.Linq)

XDocument xmlDoc = XDocument.Load("yourXMLFile.xml");
var list = xmlDoc.Root.Elements("id")
                           .Select(element => element.Value)
                           .ToList();