Build XML Dynamically using c#

Question

I have to create an XML file dynamically based on the user input.

Here is what I came up with and I am struck up with two issues.

1. if there is a collection of same element (MaxOccurs = 10) (For example if the user entered 4 accounts then how should my code be)
2. If there is a choice option. Based on the element chosen the child elements should change.

Somebody please help me.

Thanks in advance

BB

My code :

XElement req = 
    new XElement("order",
        new XElement("client", 
            new XAttribute("id", clientId),
            new XElement("quoteback", 
                new XAttribute ("name",quotebackname)
                )  
            ),
        new XElement("accounting",
            new XElement("account"),
            new XElement("special_billing_id")
            ),
        new XElement("products",
            new XElement(
                **productChoiceType**,
                ***** HERE THE ELEMENTS WILL CHAGE BASED ON  **productChoiceType**           
                )
            )
        )
    );

Answer 1

LINQ comes in handy for things like this:

XElement req = 
    new XElement("order",
        new XElement("client", 
            new XAttribute("id",clientId),
            new XElement("quoteback", new XAttribute ("name",quotebackname))  
            ),
        new XElement("accounting",
            new XElement("account"),
            new XElement("special_billing_id")
            ),
            new XElement("products", 
                new XElement(productChoices.Single(pc => pc.ChoiceType == choiceType).Name, 
                    from p in products
                    where p.ChoiceType == choiceType
                    select new XElement(p.Name)
              )
          )
      );

Answer 2

Use an XmlWriter object instead, at least imo it is easier to do the sort of things you want. You can then structure it something like:

XmlWriter w = XmlWriter.Create(outputStream);
w.WriteStartElement("order");

w.WriteStartElement("client");
w.WriteAttributeString("id", clientId);

// ...
w.WriteElementString("product", "1");
w.WriteElementString("product", "2");
w.WriteElementString("product", "3");
w.WriteElementString("product", "4");

// etc....

w.WriteEndElement(); // client

w.WriterEndElement(); // order

Answer 3

Or create a class for each type that you want to convert to XML and use the XmlSerializer.

<XmlElement("order")> _
Public Class Order
    <XmlElement("accounting")> _
    Dim accounts As List(Of Account)
    ...
End Class

Dim xmlSer as New XmlSerialzer(GetType(Accounting))
xmlSer.Serialize(myXmlWriter, myObjInstance)