Which configuration method do you prefer in .net? Why? [closed]

Question

• You can use App.config; but it only supports key/value pairs.
• You can use .Net configuration, configuration sections; but it can be really complex.
• You can use Xml Serialization/Deserialization by yourself; your classes-your way.
• You can use some other method; what can they be? ...

Which of these or other methods (if there are) do you prefer? Why?

Answer 1

When key value pairs are not enough I use Configuration Sections as they are not complex to use (unless you need a complex section):

Define your custom section:

        public class CustomSection : ConfigurationSection
        {
            [ConfigurationProperty("LastName", IsRequired = true,
            DefaultValue = "TEST")]
            public String LastName
            {
                get { return (String)base["LastName"]; }
                set { base["LastName"] = value; }
            }

            [ConfigurationProperty("FirstName", IsRequired = true, DefaultValue =
            "TEST")]
            public String FirstName
            {
                get { return (String)base["FirstName"]; }
                set { base["FirstName"] = value; }
            }

            public CustomSection()
            {

            }
        }

Programmatically create your section (if it doesn't already exist):

           // Create a custom section.
            static void CreateSection()
            {
                try
                {

                    CustomSection customSection;

                    // Get the current configuration file.
                    System.Configuration.Configuration config = ConfigurationManager.OpenExeConfiguration(@"ConfigurationTest.exe");

                    // Create the section entry  
                    // in the <configSections> and the 
                    // related target section in <configuration>.
                    if (config.Sections["CustomSection"] == null)
                    {
                        customSection = new CustomSection();
                        config.Sections.Add("CustomSection", customSection);
                        customSection.SectionInformation.ForceSave = true;
                        config.Save(ConfigurationSaveMode.Full);
                    }
                }
                catch (ConfigurationErrorsException err)
                {
                    //manage exception - give feedback or whatever
                }

            }

Following CustomSection definition and actual CustomSection will be created for you:

<?xml version="1.0" encoding="utf-8" ?>
<configuration>
  <configSections>
    <section name="CustomSection" type="ConfigurationTest.CustomSection, ConfigurationTest, Version=1.0.0.0, Culture=neutral, PublicKeyToken=null" allowLocation="true" allowDefinition="Everywhere" allowExeDefinition="MachineToApplication" overrideModeDefault="Allow" restartOnExternalChanges="true" requirePermission="true" />
  </configSections>
  <CustomSection LastName="TEST" FirstName="TEST" />
</configuration>

Now Retrieve your section properties:

    CustomSection section = (CustomSection)ConfigurationManager.GetSection("CustomSection");
    string lastName = section.LastName;
    string firstName = section.FirstName;